{"id":705,"date":"2012-08-23T13:06:34","date_gmt":"2012-08-23T17:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skepticblogs.com\/justinvacula\/?page_id=705"},"modified":"2013-06-15T16:27:58","modified_gmt":"2013-06-15T16:27:58","slug":"activism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/activism\/","title":{"rendered":"Activism"},"content":{"rendered":"

6\/13\/13 \u2013 Wilkes-Barre City Council prayer challenged
\n<\/span><\/b>I addressed Wilkes-Barre City Council with my objections to government-led prayer which opens city meetings. Read a full report of events<\/a> leading up to my objection accompanied with many links and videos including my exchange with council<\/a>. See the ‘council prayer<\/a>‘ category for more updates in this ongoing story.<\/p>\n

\""Man<\/a>

“Man Objects To Prayers Before City Council Meetings” c\/o WNEP TV-16<\/p><\/div>\n

6\/8\/13 \u2013 Debate challenge to theists, renewed<\/span><\/b>
\nI issued a renewal<\/a> of my 2009 debate challenge to theists which was published on my website and in a local newspaper<\/a>. Following the debate challenge\u2019s posting, Rev. Michael Brewster of First Baptist Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania accepted<\/a>. More details are to come.<\/p>\n

5\/24\/13 \u2013 FFRF \u201cNothing Fails Like Prayer\u201d banner placed in Wilkes-Barre, PA<\/span><\/b>
\nWith the help of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), I had placed a banner reading \u201cNothing Fails Like Prayer\u201d atop Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Read my news recap<\/a> for related information.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

5\/3\/13\u2013 \u201cCircle the Square with Prayer\u201d protest<\/span><\/strong>
\nI protested a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania event recognizing the National Day of Prayer. I greeted prayerful individuals with a sign reading “Nothing fails like prayer” and “Religion and state is a dangerous mix” promoting the Freedom From Religion Foundation and my Skeptic Ink Network website. Read my post-<\/a> and my pre-event<\/a> thoughts.<\/p>\n

\"Original<\/a>

Original photo which, modified to newspaper publication, appeared in the May 2013 edition of Freethought Today<\/p><\/div>\n

2012 \u2013 \u201cAtheists\u201d bus advertisement submitted, denied<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>In January of 2012, I proposed what was later dubbed ‘the most inoffensive atheist bus ad ever.\u2019 The ad, containing the word \u2018atheists,\u2019 was denied by a county bus agency on grounds that it was \u2018an attack on religion,\u2019 \u2018controversial,\u2019 and \u2018an attempt to start public debate of controversial issues.\u2019 The story was heavily covered throughout the secular blogosphere and twice appeared in national news. I appeared on local television, radio shows, and in local print media. Click<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>for more information.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"FFRF<\/a>

FFRF banner – “Nothing Fails Like Prayer”<\/p><\/div>\n


\n12\/19\/12 \u2013 FFRF banner placed in Wilkes-Barre<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Working with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), I had a freethought holiday banner displayed on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, PA \u2013 joining a Jewish banner and a Christian nativity scene. Soon after placement, the banner was vandalized by someone who was videotaped, appeared on a television news report, and appeared on a local talkradio show. Click\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"FFRF<\/a>

2012 FFRF banner photo included in Citizen’s Voice article – photo by Mark Moran<\/p><\/div>\n

3\/27\/12 to 10\/1\/12 \u2013 \u2018Year of the Bible\u2019 lawsuit<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Early in 2012, Pennsylvania\u2019s House of Representatives named 2012 as \u201cThe Year of the Bible\u201d calling — in a resolution which unanimously passed — the Bible as the word of God and holy scripture. The FFRF sought members to be named in its lawsuit against the state of PA. I was chosen and included as the\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>second member in a list of close to fifty<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. The lawsuit was\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>dismissed on grounds of legislative immunity<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>although court papers noted \u201cThe Year of the Bible\u201d was \u201cproselytizing,\u201d \u201calarming,\u201d \u201cexclusionary,\u201d and pushing the envelope of the Establishment Clause.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7\/8\/12 \u2013 Humanism letter to the editor published, local pastor rebuked<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing local pastor Michael Brewster\u2019s appeals to the supernatural concerning a shooting death of a local youth, I wrote a letter to the editor to a local newspaper. View all of my writings on this matter, including the letter to the editor,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Protesting<\/a>

Protesting Scranton, PA “Stand for Religious Freedom” rally<\/p><\/div>\n

6\/10\/12 –\u00a0Protest of ‘Stand for Religious Freedom’ rally in Scranton, PA<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nI protested a \u201cStand for Religious Freedom” rally in Scranton, PA. While the rally contained various persons with differing aims (ranging from wanting to make contraceptives and abortion illegal to general right-wing opposition to President Obama), the rally was intended to be a religious-based objection to President Obama\u2019s Affordable Care Act on grounds that it violates the consciences of Christians. The rally, including my protest, was covered in local print media<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Read my commentary\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4\/4\/12 \u2013 FFRF sends letter to PA House regarding prayer<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nIn November of 2011, I attended a Pennsylvania House of Representatives session with fellow atheist activist Carl Silverman in which we were coerced by an armed guard when we\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>did not stand<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0for [a governmental sectarian] prayer. After some research from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) following Carl and I complaining, the\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>FFRF sent a letter<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to the PA House of Representatives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4\/4\/12 \u2013 Marywood Secular Student Alliance group denied, newspaper article published<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nUpon starting graduate school at a Catholic university, I launched efforts to start a chapter of the Secular Student Alliance. My request was eventually denied and a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>school newspaper article was published<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0detailing my efforts and the corresponding denial.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Marywood<\/a>

Marywood University Wood Word article<\/p><\/div>\n

3\/1\/12 \u2013 \u201cGod Bless America\u201d removed from county buses<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nI had complained to the FFRF regarding the placement of a \u201cGod Bless America\u201d message on county buses which appeared where route information is typically displayed. Following a letter the FFRF sent to Lackawanna County\/COLTS, the\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cGod Bless America\u201d messages were removed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0from county buses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2\/20\/12 \u2013 Rebuke of chiropractor attending school health fair<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nSoon after discovering a chiropractor was invited to attend the \u201cCelebrate Your Body Wellness Fair\u201d at Marywood University, I researched the chiropractor and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>sent a letter to the organizer of the fair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0requesting that only evidence\/science-based medicine be included at the fair.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"421499_10150513069124327_502483225_n\"<\/a>12\/14\/11 \u2013 Legal threats received from local chiropractor\u2019s fiancee\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing my criticism of a local chiropractor who fuses theology with pseudoscience, I received legal threats. View all related posts\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

11\/15\/11 \u2013 School voucher rally protest<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nI protested a school voucher rally with the Pennsylvania State Director of American Atheists. One of the speakers \u2014 Senator Anthony Williams \u2014 who was bothered by my cheering for former governor Ed Rendell and my presence at the rally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>used a \u2018bully pulpit\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to address the state director and me telling us \u2014 among other things \u2014 to send our children to \u2018atheist schools.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

11\/8\/11 \u2013 \u201cSee You At The Pole\u201d complaint<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing media coverage of a local public school principal who appeared to participate in a prayer event with elementary school students, I complained to the FFRF and a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>letter was sent<\/a>\u00a0to the school district<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

9\/4\/11 \u2013 \u2018Paranormal Science\u2019 group rebuked<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing a newspaper story about a \u2018paranormal science\u2019 group partnering with the Luzerne County Historical Society in investigation of a local historical site, a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>letter to the editor I<\/a>\u00a0wrote<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0disputing the group\u2019s claims of scientific investigation was published.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

8\/23\/11 \u2013 Public debate challenge<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing a tremendous amount of hate mail I received following church\/state activism in 2009, I issued a public debate challenge to the religious of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I would later debate a a local Methodist minister (watch the debate video\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

8\/15\/11 \u2013 Counter-protest<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nNEPA Freethought Society members countered a church group protesting a local LGBT festival. Read my commentary\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\"ScreenHunter_254<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4\/29\/10 \u2013 Rebuke of psychic Clara Baron<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing a story in a local newspaper discussing a woman enlisting the help of a self-proclaimed psychic, I wrote a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>letter to the editor<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0rebuking the psychic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

12\/09 \u2013 Complaint filed against religious displays at county courthouse<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nI filed a complaint with\u00a0the ACLU concerning stand-alone religious displays at the Luzerne County Courthouse. The displays were eventually taken down and later erected as part of a larger inclusive display. I received a tremendous amount of public backlash and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>hate mail<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0from fellow college students and members of the community. For information concerning the \u2018nativity controversy,\u2019 click\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2009 \u2013 Secular Student Alliance at King\u2019s College group denied<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nDuring my third year at King\u2019s College \u2014 a Catholic college in Pennsylvania \u2014 I attempted to start\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>a Secular Student Alliance group<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong>. My efforts were stifled because, according to college administrators, the group\u2019s mission statement was not in accord with the college\u2019s mission statement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

6\/13\/13 \u2013 Wilkes-Barre City Council prayer challenged I addressed Wilkes-Barre City Council with my objections to government-led prayer which opens city meetings. Read a full report of events leading up to my objection accompanied with many links and videos including my exchange with council. See the ‘council prayer‘ category for more updates in this ongoing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-705","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=705"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/705\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/justinvacula\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}