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Religion See other Religion Articles Title: Ruling gives atheists Statehouse for prayer day Ruling gives atheists Statehouse for prayer day Associated Press BOISE (AP) ? A group of Idaho atheists was allowed to rally on the front steps of the Statehouse on Thursday after a ruling by a federal judge in Boise forced religious groups to go elsewhere to celebrate the National Day of Prayer. It was a victory for the Idaho chapter of American Atheists, a national group that has criticized the National Day of Prayer on its Web site as "a political wolf in religious sheep?s clothing." U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill said Wednesday that Idaho Atheists had presented enough evidence for him to issue a temporary restraining order to move the National Day of Prayer group off the front steps. In February, the atheists' Idaho leader, Susan Harrington, scheduled her rally for the day which many religious groups normally gather on the steps. Jim Hughes, Boise's National Day of Prayer organizer, had attempted on March 17 to reserve the steps. On April 13, state facilities manager Tim Mason told Harrington her group would have to move to the east steps because the National Day of Prayer ? recognized annually as the first Thursday in May ? had an annual reservation for the front steps. She protested and filed a lawsuit. In court Wednesday, state Deputy Attorney General Jim Carlson argued that Mason has a standing policy to reserve the steps for the National Day of Prayer and other annual events. But when pressed by Winmill, Carlson couldn't cite another example of when that policy was used. "Obviously we?re very pleased," said Harrington, before her group gathered. "We are looking forward to having our rally." Atheists in the United States say the National Day of Prayer is a way for Christian fundamentalists to assert their influence on American politics. "The nationwide event is being organized to meld evangelical Christianity and government, and thus endanger the constitutional separation of church and state," said Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists. Phone calls to Mason in Boise on Thursday weren't immediately returned. In 1952, President Harry Truman signed a unanimous joint resolution by Congress establishing an annual National Day of Prayer. Thirty-six years later, the law was amended by President Ronald Reagan, setting aside the first Thursday of May as the date for the event. In an interview Thursday, Hughes said his group takes responsibility for not making the reservation earlier and pledged to be more prompt about reserving the steps next year. Hughes said the event had been held on the Statehouse steps annually since at least 1989. "This is very little about where the rally is held, and all about honoring God in prayer," Hughes said. "We?re fine with this ? our intention was never to move anybody out or upstage anything." His group, which moved the prayer event to another set of Statehouse steps, has prayed for the atheists, as well as for other people, he said. On Wednesday, Winmill said he didn't find there was any conspiracy by Mason or others to deprive the atheist group of its rights. He also said that because Harrington's lawsuit was filed only on Tuesday, it didn't leave the state much time to gather evidence. Terrell Mayton, a spokesman for the National Day of Prayer, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., said Thursday he wasn't aware of any concerted effort on the part of U.S. atheists to undermine the religious group's event. "I?m not familiar with what they're posting on their Web sites," Mayton said. "We?ve got thousands of events all over the country, from courthouse steps to community parks. One of the great things in this country is the right of free speech and right to assemble. The National Day of Prayer enjoys that right, as do other groups."
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#1. To: Mr Nuke Buzzcut (#0)
I'm waiting for the cries of persecution to start...
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