Weekly SPI Coalition Member Report
by Deanna Cantrell
United Coalition of Reason
United CoR is a hub of activity for the Secular community.┬á Dr. Jase Heap, the Executive Director of United CoR, is a seasoned speaker.┬á He has recently had speaking engagements at WashCon, which went on despite the hurricane outside of the venue.┬á He also spoke at the Sacramento Freethought Day where Susan Corbett, United CoRÔÇÖs Education Officer and National Coordinator, made her first National speaking debut.┬á Notably, Susan also spawned her first meme during this speaking engagement by stating that, ÔÇ£Freethought is the first step of a growing mind.ÔÇØ
United CoR also just secured a spot in the winter display located in Arlington Heights, Illinois.┬á Last year the Chicago displays faced fierce vandalism.┬á Thanks to the local chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the displays managed to be salvaged.┬á The Arlington Heights Police Department is allowing the CoR to put up the, ÔÇ£A for AtheistÔÇØ letter and a Chicago CoR banner.┬á Stay tuned to United CoRÔÇÖs website for developments as to how this yearÔÇÖs display survives.
The Central Iowa CoR
The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition held their 15th Annual Banquet and Presidential Forum at the Knapp Learning Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Eight of the Republican presidential candidates were on hand to speak to the predominantly evangelical audience. On stage were Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, Rick Santorum and Scott Walker. Many of IowaÔÇÖs own politicians also spoke at the event including Senators Chuck Grassley & Joni Ernst, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, as well as Congressmen Steve King and David Young. Faith and Freedom Coalition Founder and Chairman Ralph Reed also took to the stage to speak about his organizationÔÇÖs goals (and to ask for money-this was a fundraiser after all!). The message repeated by virtually every speaker at the banquet was that there is a war on religious liberty, persecution of Christians, and the need to bring God back into government.
The IAF was present to make it clear to the attendees of the Banquet that religious liberty is not reserved for the privileged few but for all religions or lack thereof. Many of the signs carried stated ÔÇ£Separation of Church & StateÔÇØ. The protest area was in full view of the attendees as they walked from the parking lot and got in line to the entrance of the venue.
For the full story, visit the Central Iowa CoR.
 
Central Coast CoR Faces More Vandalism
California CoRs have seen their fair share of vandalism, when it comes to road signs or billboards. Late last August,Butte County Coalition of Reason experienced more vandalism for the third consecutive year. This time, nearly 400 miles south of Chico, a vandal spray painted over part of an Atheists United Adopt-a-Highway road sign, southbound on Highway 101, near Atascadero. The vandalism was discovered Saturday, September 19 by members of Atheists United San Luis Obispo (AU SLO), a member of the Central Coast Coalition of Reason, which was launched during the first week of May 2015.
Read the full story.
Great News from the Mid-Columbia CoR
In Kennewick, Washington, a ÔÇ£Resolution affirming freedom of conscienceÔÇØ was defeated in a six-to-one vote by City Council members following strong opposition from the local atheist community and others. The Resolution, drafted by┬áJoseph BackholmÔÇöExecutive Director of the┬áFamily Policy Institute of WashingtonÔÇöhas been proposed by a city council member in nearby Pasco, as well. The Resolution entreats State Attorney General Bob Ferguson to┬ádrop the case against an area florist who refused to sell flowers for the wedding of a gay couple┬ábecause of her ÔÇ£relationship with Jesus Christ.ÔÇØ The florist lost in court earlier this year and is appealing the decision. The Resolution also seeks to support the decision of business owners who refuse to serve customers if they perceive doing so would be contrary to their sincerely held beliefs, even though such actions directly violate Washington State anti-discrimination laws.
John Trumbo, the council member in Kennewick who proposed the Resolution, had previously put forward another resolution that council meetings should be opened with explicitly Christian prayers, as he believes Christianity was the religion of AmericaÔÇÖs founding fathers. That resolution received little support from other council members and never came up for a vote.
Find the full story here.