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State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit: Stop Persecuting Atheists in Polk County!
  1. Signatures
    522 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit (+ 3 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit (Jerry Hill)
      • Asst State Attorney (Brad Copley)
      • US Dept of Justice- Civil Rights Division
      • US Commission on Civil Rights- Southern Division (Peter Minarek, Director)
  2. Created By
    EllenBeth Wachs
    Lakeland, FL
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Religious Freedom is at stake for everyone. When we place religious speech above secular speech, the foundation and principles that this great Nation were built upon tremble and crumble. When we have a government that values one set of beliefs over others, groups are regarded as second class citizens. When the majority religion imposes faith where none should be, theocracy ensues and the minority's rights get trampled and everyone loses.

Government has no business being in the prayer business and has NO business arresting someone for NOT praying. That is what happened to Atheists of Florida President, John Kieffer, at a Polk County School Board Meeting.

In front of a packed audience, Atheists of Florida officers, John Kieffer, President, and EllenBeth Wachs, Vice-President, were ejected from the Polk County School Board meeting auditorium Tuesday afternoon, February 22 2011, by City of Bartow police officers. Kieffer was arrested and Wachs was given a verbal trespass warning. Kieffer and Wachs had been taking photos and speaking to each other in the front area of the room while a local area pastor conducted a Christian prayer prior to the official start of the school board meeting.

Kieffer was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest without violence and disrupting a lawful assembly. The three misdemeanors carry a total maximum jail/prison sentence of 1 year and 4 months. His trial is scheduled for February

Imperial Polk County, Florida has become the epicenter of the battle for equality, tolerance and civil rights for atheists. Please send a message to the powers that be that you stand up for the Constitution for EVERYONE.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Stop Persecuting Atheists in Polk County!

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Jerry Hill, State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit.

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Stop Persecuting Atheists in Polk County!

Religious Freedom is at stake for everyone.When we place religious speech above secular speech, the foundation and principles that this great Nation were built upon tremble and crumble. When we have a government that values one set of beliefs over others, groups are regarded as second class citizens. When the majority religion imposes faith where none should be, theocracy ensues and the minority's rights get trampled and everyone loses.

Government has no business being in the prayer business and has NO business arresting someone for NOT praying. That is what happened to Atheists of Florida President, John Kieffer, at a Polk County School Board Meeting.

In front of a packed audience, Atheists of Florida officers, John Kieffer, President, and EllenBeth Wachs, Vice-President, were ejected from the Polk County School Board meeting auditorium Tuesday afternoon, 22 February 2011, by City of Bartow police officers. Kieffer was arrested and Wachs was given a verbal trespass warning. Kieffer and Wachs had been taking photos and speaking to each other in the front area of the room while a local area pastor conducted a Christian prayer PRIOR to the official start of the school board meeting.
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Sincerely,

[Your name]

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