Hello Secular Supporter,

We’re excited to wrap up the week on a positive note: the “Appeal to Heaven” Pine Tree flag has been removed from the State House.

Earlier this legislative session, an anonymous individual or group hung the flag—associated with an insurrectionist movement to integrate church and state—on the second floor of the House lobby, placing it above both the American and Arizona flags.

Secular AZ responded with a letter to House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R-25) and Democratic leaders asking for its removal while we prepared for legal action. Constituents like you from all over the state also made numerous contacts with legislators over the past several months.  

We have discovered that as a result, the flag was removed without fanfare some time earlier this month.

We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made donations to Secular AZ’s legal department and supported the effort. While on the surface this may seem like a small, symbolic victory, as experts reminded us earlier this year, intermingling religious and state iconography is a significant component of the efforts to make white Christian nationalism the law of the land.

We also couldn't have done it without activists like you bringing it to our attention in the first place! Your vigilance pays off. Please know that our legal department is standing by to be your advocate on any violations of church/state separation. So if you see something, say something! Please contact us if you notice anything you suspect might represent an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion, from prayer at public meetings to religious iconography on display to blatant acts of discrimination.

You can email us at info@secularaz.org.

Student protest in Chandler this weekend!

Support Schools AZ is a group of Chandler students organizing for LGBTQ+ rights! Join them for a rally at Chandler City Hall this Sunday 5/22 at 5pm! They'll also be making posters at Brick Road Coffee (4415 S Rural Rd) in Tempe this Saturday at 12pm.
 
Message them on Instagram if you'd like to be on the docket!

Atheist bikers in Arizona to take Constitution for a ride tomorrow!!

Secular AZ liaisons Reason Riders are Arizona's premiere atheist motorcycle club! And we're proud to sponsor their part of the Ride for Liberty, wherein riders will transport a copy of the US Constitution across the country to advocate for equality.
 
Join them tomorrow at 8:30 for the hand-off ceremony in Mesa at 517 W McKellips Rd!
 
More details on their FB event here.

Division, Disinformation, and Demonization

Secular AZ has scored some face time with a prominent ex-evangelical author and speaker who has been featured in The Boston GlobeForeign PolicyPlayboyDAME MagazineThe Moscow TimesAlternet, and more. And we just learned some exciting details about her upcoming talk!

Join Chrissy Stroop 5/31 at 6pm for a detailed analysis on how Christian nationalists are creating an authoritarian America!

 

WATCH: Sen. Martin Quezada on the state of democracy at the Legislature

What's happening with the multitude of voter suppression bills moving through the legislature? Why does it seem like positive bills never get heard? And what can we do about it? Senator Martin Quezada (D-29) joined us last week to go over all this, and you can now watch the full video here.

 
 

Secular AZ
PO Box 19258  | Phoenix, Arizona 85005
6023804810 | info@secularaz.org

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