A friend of mine passed along the following note concerning the so-called National Day of Prayer. The info concerns a protest to held in Columbus on 5/4/2006. If you would like to participate feel free, if you want more info his contact info is at the end of this post.
On Thursday, May 4, 2006 – many Americans will be observing a National Day of Prayer. This is an annual event that is observed on the first Thursday of every May and has been endorsed by many goverenment officials from President Bush on down.
A National Day of Prayer rally is scheduled to be held (for the 16th year in a row) on the west (High St.) side of the Ohio Statehouse from 11:30am until 1pm.
I plan to be there with a sign and literature, protesting this terrible breach in the wall of separation between church and state.
I am doing this not as a member of any organization but as an American citizen who is fed up with the drift towards theocracy in this country.
I am also fed up with the way prayer, faith, and religion seem to be increasingly eclipsing reason and science.
If you share my concerns and would like to join me, please let me know. I plan on having some extra, professionally made signs available as well as flyers and hand-outs.
I’ve already cleared my plans with both Statehouse and Columbus officials and can share the rules and regulations that govern protests like this to anyone who might be interested.
My protest has to some extent been inspired by the National Day of Reason that the American Humanist Association and other groups have been promoting as an alternative to the National Day of Prayer. You can learn more about the thinking behind the Day of Reason by going here:
http://www.nationaldayofreason.org/
Why a National Day of Prayer is wrong
Americans United for Separation of Church and State thinks the National Day of Prayer is wrong
Questions? Contact Dan Birtcher (614) 865-9146 hcco_djb@yahoo.com