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Wyndgate Country Club: Apologize for anti-atheist discrimination
  1. Signatures
    529 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Wyndgate Country Club
  2. Created By
    Kevin DeGraaf
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

The Wyndgate Country Club cancelled an event sponsored by the Center For Inquiry - Michigan after learning that the event's featured speaker, internationally renowned biologist Richard Dawkins, is an atheist.

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/richard_dawkins_event_banned_in_MI/

In a phone call to CFI–Michigan Assistant Director Jennifer Beahan, The Wyndgate’s representative explained that the owner did not wish to associate with individuals such as Dawkins, or his philosophies.

Although privately owned, The Wyndgate's facilities are open to the public for special events and occasions. According to Title II of the Federal Civil Rights Law of 1964, “open to the public” means “all persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.”

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Apologize for anti-atheist discrimination

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Wyndgate Country Club.

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Wyndgate Country Club:

I am writing to urge you to apologize for your recent act of anti-atheist discrimination.

You recently cancelled a fundraising event sponsored by the Center For Inquiry - Michigan after learning that the event's featured speaker, internationally renowned biologist Richard Dawkins, is an atheist. Your representative stated that you do not "wish to associate with individuals such as Dawkins, or his philosophies."

While it is certainly your right to disagree with the views held by Richard Dawkins and CFI-Michigan, your establishment is open to the public for special events and occasions and as such is required by Title II of the Federal Civil Rights Law of 1964 to provide to “all persons [...] equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of [your] place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.”

Your last-minute, bigotry-fueled unilateral cancellation of this event was contrary to the law and to common courtesy. You owe Dawkins, CFI-Michigan and the rationalist community in general an apology.

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Sincerely,

[Your name]

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