[BES Friends] FW: Nationwide demos 9/17 to protest ABC smears of nonbelievers

[peaceethics@comcast.net]

-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- 
From: AmAtheist at aol.com 
To: peaceethics at comcast.net 
Subject: Nationwide demos 9/17 to protest ABC smears of nonbelievers 
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 19:53:28 +0000 

  
A call from American Atheists for your support...

SPEAK OUT SATURDAY!
September 17, 2005 - 9:00 AM local time
http://www.atheists.org/sos

Join us in asking the ABC television network and Good Morning America Weekend to retract the unfair claim that "There are no Atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones"!

* Contact ABC and Walt Disney Co. Board Chairman George Mitchell with your concerns and request for a retraction! (http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-06-sep-2005.html)

* Mobilize your Atheist/Freethought/Humanist group and friends to picket your local ABC station on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at 9:00 AM as part of a coordinated national action!

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is urging all Affiliated Groups and other Atheists/Freethought/Humanist organizations throughout the country to join us in a coordinated nationwide effort to picket local ABC television stations on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at 9:00 AM local time.  

The purpose is to ask ABC to retract the unfair statement made during a broadcast of "Good Morning America Weekend" on 9/4/05 by host Bill Weir.  In a segment dealing with the tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina, Weir made the statement "There are no atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones."

We know otherwise, of course.  (link: http://www.atheistfoxholes.org).  There are "Atheists in Foxholes" who have served -- and are serving -- our nation and defending the Constitution and our secular way of life!  And Atheists have mobilized to contribute to the humanitarian effort to ease the sufferings of those left behind in the Katrina aftermath.

Imagine if Mr. Weir had made such a statement on national television about blacks, gays, women or some other group.  Shouldn't he and ABC retract this hasty and ill-informed claim?  We think so. And for the past week, we have urged our fellow Atheists and other nonbelievers to contact ABC, asking that the Network made an on-air statement.  On Sunday, September 11, 2005, we expanded that campaign to include letters to Mr. George Mitchell, Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, parent firm of ABC.

On Saturday, September 17, 2005, we urge all local and regional Atheist/Freethought/Humanist and other nonbeliever groups to "mobilize your base" and hold peaceful demonstrations outside the nearest ABC affiliate.

* After locating the local station affiliate, advise them of your peaceful protest.  Ask for the station manager (but don't let them talk you out of your demonstration! We want to "send a message" to ABC!) .Check local ordinances to see if you need a permit. If the station is not located at a heavily-trafficked location, consider holding the action at a nearby intersection or other venue which is.

* Bring banners and appropriate signs.  Hold a "poster party" to make the signs prior to the demonstration.  Signs should convey a polite, concise message.  Suggested slogans include:

-- There ARE Atheists in Foxholes!

-- ABC should apologize!

-- "Atheists in Foxholes" -- Always Were, Always Will Be!

* Contact your local media (newspapers, television, radio) with a press release announcing the event.  Include the basic information (who, what, when, where and why), plus the phone number/e-mail  of someone to serve as the media liaison.

* "Mobilize your base" and inform local members/supporters of the details for your demonstration. Ask them to contact ABC and Disney Chairman George Mitchell with polite letters of concern. Consider holding a social get-together after the protest.

* Pick an informed spokesperson to deal with media inquiries before, during and after the demonstration.  This person should be familiar with the background on the story, and be capable of articulating the purpose of the protest.

* Post the details of your planned demo on boards, groups and other venues. CONTACT US through  web site (link at http://www.atheists.org/sos) , and we will list the information about your demonstration here.

* Take photos of the event, and send them to us.  We will put them up on our web site! Send us a report as well that we can share with the other organizations across the country who will be participating in Speak Out Saturday.

* Feel free to circulate this action alert!

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://baltimoreethicalsociety.org/pipermail/friends_baltimoreethicalsociety.org/attachments/20050912/4bc7a0fc/attachment.htm