Photos, cartoons, galleries (March 2020)

What cover up?

Doing God’s will.

Where do you Freethought? A good time to catch up on my Freethought Today reading is waiting to have my car serviced. And I happily leave it in the busy waiting area with its tables of reading material. Susan Bath Maryland

Pat Webb sent us a photo of this marquee outside of Brevard, N.C. in early January. “My husband and I both enjoy your publication. It’s informative and confirms that we are not alone in our thinking,” Pat writes. “When we first saw this sign, I thought, ‘Really??’ But then again, it was in Transylvania County, N.C., home to U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows.”

FFRF’s Director of Strategic Response Andrew L. Seidel was in New Orleans on Jan. 16 as part of his book tour for The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American. Hosted by the New Orleans Secular Humanist Association, Seidel spoke to a crowd of about 75 people. Shown in this photo are, from left to right: Charlotte Klasson, Audrey Coulter, Andrew, William Gautreaux, Jim Dugan, Beth Deitch and Clay Richard.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and friends met with U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (third from left) on Feb. 6. Raskin, co-founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, was 2019 recipient of FFRF’s Clarence Darrow Award. The statuette (pictured behind Raskin) is a replica of the full-size statue of Darrow standing at the courthouse where the Scopes Trial took place in Dayton, Tenn., created by sculptor and FFRF Member Zenos Frudakis (fifth from left) and commissioned by FFRF. Pictured, from left, are FFRF Director of Strategic Response Andrew L. Seidel, FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor, Rep. Raskin, Freethought Society President and FFRF Life Member Margaret Downey, Frudakis, FFRF Governmental Affairs Director Mark Dann and FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. (Photo by Margaret Downey)

The Arkansas Society of Freethinkers hosted FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott in Little Rock on Jan. 19 for his presentation on “The Theocrats’ Playbook,” which explores the tactics used by officials who try to inject religion into government. Patrick got a first-hand look at the Ten Commandments monument at the Arkansas Capitol. The monument is subject to a lawsuit brought jointly by FFRF, the American Humanist Association and members of the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers.

Duke University Professor Harold Erickson came for a visit to FFRF in January, where he posed by FFRF’s silicone mannequin of Charles Darwin, created by artist Csam Wheatley. This was Erickson’s first visit to Freethought Hall, FFRF’s office building in Madison, Wis., which was renovated and enlarged in 2015. The new third floor wing is named “Harold Erickson Public Relations Wing,” thanks to Erickson’s generosity. He is in the field of cell biology, was one of 14 children brought up Roman Catholic, and began thinking his way out of religion in his youth.

Gary King, president of the Colorado Springs FFRF chapter, shares the story of how that chapter is helping students who are homeless or don’t feel safe. “As a teacher, I had worked in domestic violence and with at-risk kids. There was a girl who told me she was involved with after-school activities because she did not feel safe at home. I got home and thought how my daughter, stressed at college, would come home and sit with her baby blankie for comfort. We were her safe place. I talked with my wife about crocheting a scarf to be used like a blankie, but a little more ‘adult’ or cool. She made six that weekend. I invited that girl to pick one. She came out from the teachers’ lounge with a scarf, held near her heart, with a look of calm and a soft smile. “Then, Suzanne McReynolds (pictured ), an FFRF member, started a meetup for us called ACCS/FFRF Yarn Craftivists. We get about 10 people to knit and crochet scarves and hats and then drop them off for social workers, counselors and nurses. These scarves go to three high schools, two middle schools and one elementary school, along with Inside/Out Youth Services and Urban Peak. Our FFRF chapter has purchased about $900 of yarn.”

Photos, cartoons, galleries (March 2020)

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