Greetings,
A demonstration at Santa Fe, Texas to protest forced prayers at public schools will happen Friday, October 8, 1999 beginning at 6:00Pm at the Santa Fe school district football field. The following information came from the demonstration organizers.\
To get more information, or to tell the organizers that you want to help, contact: Will Ellsworth, 5847 Greencraig Dr., Houston, Texas 77035-5417, 713-729-1757, willpe@swbell.net.
Howard Thompson Editor: The Texas Atheist newsletter
Demonstrators/protesters will exercise First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the people peaceably to assemble, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Santa Fe ISD has been in the national news of late and in the local news since 1995 because of their illegal and unconstitutional maneuvers to keep Christian prayer in their public schools and at school sponsored events - the latest of these being public school prayer at SFISD football games.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that SFISD may not allow students to pray at football games, being that athletics is not a solemn occasion. The 5th Circuit did rule that a form of prayer is legal at Graduation Ceremonies when it is student initiated prayer and it meets certain strict guidelines. Federal Judge Sim Lake of the Federal Southern District of Texas in Galveston repudiated his superiors' ruling when one Marion Ward, whose father is a local Santa Fe Baptist minister, by allowing Ms. Ward to pray at the football game. Judge Lake's ruling empathized that not allowing students to pray publicly at the football games amounted to "state-sponsored atheism." Judge Lake is required to follow rulings of his Circuit. He has not. To my knowledge, not one of his superiors has disciplined him for his action.
Because of Judge Lake's ruling, Ms. Ward proceeded with her very Christian prayer over the public address system at SFISD's first football game of the season.
SFISD Superintendent Ownby has allowed the illegal practice to continue. Breaking the law and supporting hostile encounters to the First Amendment of the US Constitution is NOT an appropriate behavior for those in a position of authority to emit in front of the susceptible teens under that authority.
Friday, October 8, 1999 protesters will demonstrate their opposition to public school prayer and intrusion of the extreme religious right in local government and their control over the minds of young students.
October 8, 1999 is the date for the homecoming football game between SFISD and Texas City ISD. The game along with Ms. Ward's prayer over the public address system is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM.
Protesters should assemble no later 6:00 PM on the far end of the SFISD school property. If you plan to come via the Gulf Freeway (Interstate 45 South from Downtown Houston,) drive south to Exit 20 (Santa Fe via Texas 646 South.) This exit is past the Space Center. Exits are well marked. From Exit 20, veer right around the frontage road curve to a stop light and turn right. Go 1.9 miles to the next stop light in Dickinson. Continue on Texas 646 South 3.4 miles to another light at the intersection of Texas 646 and Farm to Market (FM) road 1764. Somewhere around this area, you will pass a church with the sign "God Is Still In Control In Santa Fe."
Continue on Texas 646 South through the next light which is 6th Street in Santa Fe. Drive another 1.3 miles on Texas 646 South to Highway 6 in Santa Fe. Turn right (at a light) and drive 1.2 miles to Warpath. The SFISD Administration Building, with the stadium just behind it, is at the corner of Highway 6 and Warpath Avenue. Drive past the schools to the far end of Warpath Avenue which is where I will be waiting. I intend to arrive between 5:30 and 5:45 PM. If parking is a problem during that time or if protesters arrive late, parking is available at the Mae S. Bruce Library along a street running perpendicular to the far end of Warpath Avenue (turn right).
Some "rules:"
No alcohol on school property.
No smoking on school property: meaning, if you want to smoke you will have to go where the property meets the paved road and five feet out from there.
No signs, buttons, or banners expressing obscenities or vulgarities (aughty words).
You may distribute literature - provided it is not libelous, obscene, or otherwise sexually inappropriate for minors, or constitutes fighting words, i.e., abusive or hateful words that by their very utterance cause or incite violence or a breach of the peace. [Note: SFISD is overstepping its bounds here by limiting expression under what the district considers to be libelous, obscene, or sexually inappropriate. However, I would expect that our literature or signs would not be any of the above.]
Note: This next rule I am going to list because Superintendent Ownby insisted on reading it to me, although I told him he would not have to worry about it:
No material that depicts or describes sexual acts, masturbation, bestiality, excretory functions, or lewd exhibition of the genitals in a manner that is patently offensive to prevailing standards of the community.
Concerns about violence:
Mr. Ownby stated to me that the "Facilities Usage Request" I had to file for permission to use the sidewalks would be approved. First, however, he will talk with the Baptist ministers this weekend to get a "feel" for how the community will react. Ownby told me, "I cannot guarantee that they won't take your signs and burn them." After meeting with the ministers this weekend, he will meet with the Mayor and Police on Monday. According to Ownby, the point of all of this is that I might have to pay for extra security. Apparently that is not offered by the city police. I do not know that to be the case, however.
Because the sidewalks are up and down school property, and because of media presence, I do not feel that there will be any attacks on protesters. The fact that I'm told these things by Ownby is simply a tact to try to get protesters to back down and not show. I, for one, will not back down in the face of adversity. Now is the time to stop the extremists in the religious right. Does v. Santa Fe ISD will most likely be heard by the US Supreme Court, thereby setting standards for the entire nation. If you do not speak up now, you may have to live with consequences well beyond what some of you think is a harmless practice.
For your information - there are people who live in the Santa Fe community who are Christians. They are supporting the demonstration and will be there to protest - Christians of varied denominations. The Plaintiffs in the original complaint are Catholic and Mormon. There will be people from out-of-town. Secular Humanists, Ateists, Gay, Straight, People of Color, etc. This protest will be a signal to the community of Santa Fe, to the diverse people of Texas, and to the multi-cultural people who make up the United States, that it is the right thing to do to stand up to the extreme Christian religious right and it is time to stop their interference in government and in our private lives.
Please alert as many people as you can about this demonstration and its importance in our lives.
Any questions? Contact me by email or by the telephone number listed below.
Very truly yours,
Will Ellsworth 5847 Greencraig Dr. Houston, Texas 77035-5417 713-729-1757 willpe@swbell.net