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Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Many React To Anti-Religion Sign In State Capitol Display

By Howard M. Friedman

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As reported on Tuesday, the Freedom From Religion Foundation created a stir in Olympia, Washington when it took advantage of the state Capitol's open forum policy permitting any group to put up a display during the holiday season. FFRF put up a sign extolling the virtues of non-belief. Sometime overnight between Thursday and Friday, the 50-pound sign disappeared from the Capitol building, and then showed up at a local radio station where an unidentified man dropped it off. Meanwhile, other groups have applied to place displays in the Capitol, including a set of "Nativity balloons" from one applicant, and a "Festivus" pole (honoring a made-up holiday depicted by comedian Jerry Seinfeld) from another group. State troopers are now in the Capitol building guarding the display that remains?a Nativity scene. Presumably they will remain to guard other displays as well.

Bill O?Reilly on Fox News carried a segment (full text)on Tuesday night that was critical of the FFRF display. That led to the Governor?s office receiving over 200 calls per hour objecting to the sign. Governor Chris Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna issued a statement defending the state?s non-discriminatory policy, saying that the state capitol "belongs to all citizens of Washington state." These developments are reported by CNN, KATU News and the AP. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 06, 2008 (boomark / email).