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<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- <BR>From: AmAtheist@aol.com <BR>To: peaceethics@comcast.net <BR>Subject: Nationwide demos 9/17 to protest ABC smears of nonbelievers <BR>Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 19:53:28 +0000 <BR>
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<DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4>A call from American Atheists for your support...</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV align=center><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=6>SPEAK OUT SATURDAY!</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=5>September 17, 2005 - 9:00 AM local time</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><A title=http://www.atheists.org/sos href="http://www.atheists.org/sos">http://www.atheists.org/sos</A></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=center><EM><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><STRONG>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"!</STRONG></FONT></EM></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4>* Contact ABC and Walt Disney Co. Board Chairman George Mitchell with your concerns and request for a retraction! (<A title=http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-06-sep-2005.html href="http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-06-sep-2005.html">http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-06-sep-2005.html</A>)</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4>* 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!</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><FONT size=3>AMERICAN ATHEISTS</FONT> <FONT size=3>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. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>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 <EM>"There are no atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones."</EM></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>We know otherwise, of course. (link: <A title=http://www.atheistfoxholes.org/ href="http://www.atheistfoxholes.org/">http://www.atheistfoxholes.org</A>). There <EM>are </EM>"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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* 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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* 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:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>-- There <STRONG><EM>ARE </EM>Atheists in Foxholes!</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><STRONG>-- ABC </STRONG>should apologize!</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>-- "Atheists in Foxholes" -- Always Were, Always Will Be!</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* 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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* "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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* Pick an <EM>informed</EM> 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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* Post the details of your planned demo on boards, groups and other venues. CONTACT US through web site (link at <A title=http://www.atheists.org/sos href="http://www.atheists.org/sos">http://www.atheists.org/sos</A>) , and we will list the information about your demonstration here.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* 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 <STRONG><EM>Speak Out Saturday</EM></STRONG>.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>* Feel free to circulate this action alert!</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left>(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.)</DIV>
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