Ruling allows for atheist display
Judge grants Freethinkers’ request for kiosk at state Capitol
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A nativity scene sits on the lawn south of the state Capitol Monday afternoon. A judge ruled Monday that the secretary of state’s office must let a group that includes atheists put a winter solstice display on the Capitol grounds. The Arkansas Society of Freethinkers had sought to put its display up alongside the Christmas display, but had its request denied.
Photo by Staton Breidenthal
An atheist group’s display marking the winter solstice will join the traditional Nativity scene on the state Capitol grounds as a result of a ruling by a federal judge Monday.
U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers, who sued Secretary of State Charlie Daniels after he refused to grant permission for the group to put up its display, dubbed the Box of Knowledge.
“We liked the outcome,” said Mark Love, an electrical engineer who is the registrar for the society. “We wanted to be included and to be able to express our message. It looks like it’s going to happen.”
Daniels said his office staff will ...
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Front Section, Pages 1 on 12/15/2009
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