Atheists file lawsuit over Day of FaithThey say the city wrongfully spent taxpayer money.By JEFF BRUMLEY, The Times-UnionJacksonville spent at least $101,000 to plan and host its Aug. 12 Day of Faith anti-violence rally and now faces legal action from a national atheists’ organization that wants the money returned to city taxpayers.Mayor John Peyton promoted A Day of Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors as a way to mobilize the local faith and nonprofit communities to help combat the city’s growing homicide count, which stands at 103 for the year. There had been 96 homicides by the day the event was held.The city estimated that 6,000 attended the two-hour rally at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. It featured a lineup of elected, civic and religious leaders who urged residents to pray and volunteer for mentoring and other programs they say could address the social factors behind murder and other forms of violence.But some people and organizations complained about the rally, saying it was overtly religious in nature and represented an example of government promotion of faith.American Atheists Inc. filed a motion in federal court in Jacksonville to stop the event. The judge rejected it, saying it was filed too late. Since then the organization said in court it will sue on behalf of taxpayers to recover the funds spent and to prevent the city from holding such an event again, said Edwin Kagin, national legal counsel for the New Jersey-based group.According to documents provided Friday by Cindy Laquidara, the city’s chief deputy general counsel, City Hall spent $9,180 on advertising, $6,856 for DVD and flier production and mailing, and $80,268 for expenses such as T-shirts for volunteers, an event logo, printing, bus service, events staff and video production. The latter amount includes $20,854 for venue charges.Another $5,097 was spent on staff time dedicated to the event.Laquidara said it’s possible additional expenses were incurred but have not been turned in to the mayor’s and legal counsel’s offices.The American Civil Liberties Union of Greater Jacksonville, meanwhile, has filed records requests with the city seeking information on who was invited to the rally and its funding.Chapter President Ken Hurley said he’s received some of the requested documents and that he has forwarded them to ACLU attorneys for review. But he said it is far too early to predict whether the organization will also file a lawsuit.”You can’t expect that but you can’t rule it out, either,” Hurley said.Kagin said American Atheists is taking action against the city because the Day of Faith was a prayer service financed by taxpayers.”The city has no business being in the religion business,” he said.A Day of Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors featured short sermons by several Christian ministers, prayers and religious music. One Muslim and one Jewish leader also participated.Peyton and other city officials have consistently downplayed the religious angle of the event and argued that all residents were invited to attend. The mayor has also noted that secular nonprofit agencies were heavily involved in the effort.The Rev. Mark Griffin, pastor of Wayman Chapel AME in Jacksonville, disagreed with those who characterize the rally as a religious revival.”I think it was money well spent and I don’t think it was inappropriate at all,” Griffin said Friday. He said the event’s focus was on preventing homicides, not on promoting any one faith over another.”There were people of all faiths there and there were people of no faith there – no one was being screened at the door,” Griffin said.jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4310
robguy387 that was interesting.it is a disgrace the way we use the oceans
as a garbage dump.
Thanks Aviaa for explaining “genetic variance” a million times better than I ever could! I’ve read quite a bit about evolution etc, but I can have a hard time remembering specifics sometimes (the curse of the book worm, I suppose). Perhaps I should eat more ginko/fish, etc!
Yes, I recommend Skeptic Magazine to everyone on this thread. As I said originally, even that magazine sometimes has articles that I don’t quite buy into (like the recent articles about morality and religion), but it is always quite interesting.
Betelnut,
Your explanation was already quite good? I just wanted to add in the ?why? part on which you were speculating. Rereading, I might have come off as trying to ?improve? what you said. Wasn?t my goal, I promise.
I have the same problem? random facts replace random other facts and I find myself trying to remember what is related to what else. I have friends who can quote books from memory. Not me! I don?t mind it though. I feel if I read a lot, I may not read as carefully (and thus not remember it all). However, if I get the general gist of the subject, I can always go back and find the exact phrase or concept I?m looking for later.
Wait .. you don’t have to put up with prosletizing neighbors. Just tell them you belong to the Church of the Bovine Scatology. This is the only church you will ever need.
Found at at http://www.theborg.info, the Church takes no prisoners — it hates muslems and christions alike. Searching for something you can believe in? You can find it there. I am the grand POOBAH, but you can jsut call me Heinie.