FFRFMCC Non-Theist Holiday Displays Erected Again in the Chicago Area!

Once again this year, the non-religious have a voice in the Chicago area countering the religious symbolism widely present on public property during the month of December.

On Monday, November 24th, 2014, the FFRFMCC  erected their 8 1/2′ high illuminated Dawkins’ Scarlet “A” sign in Chicago’s Daley Center Plaza.  Next to that are back-to-back 2 1/2′ x 7 1/2′ banners celebrating the Winter Solstice (the TRUE and ORIGINAL reason for the season), and also honoring the birth of our nation’s Bill of Rights, which was ratified on December 15th, 1791.

Daley Center Plaza is located at 50 W. Washington St. in Chicago.  The displays can be found along Dearborn Street (east side of the plaza).

On Saturday, November 29th, 2014, the FFRFMCC and the Chicago Coalition of Reason placed  two separate secular displays in Arlington Heights to counter a Christian creche, which has been setup by the Illinois Nativity Scene Committee for the past two years after they had pressured the Arlington Heights Park District to add a “free speech zone” public forum area within its huge and completely secular holiday display at North School Park.  This year, the secular displays outnumber the religious one, featuring a 3 1/2′ x 7′ banner asking: “Are you Good Without God?  Millions are!”  Across from that is a smaller 5′ high version of the illuminated Dawkins’ Scarlet “A” sign, designed to encourage atheists to come “out-of-the-closet.”

North School Park is located adjacent to the Arlington Heights Park District building at 410 N. Arlington Heights Rd. in Arlington Heights.  The public forum area can be found at the northwest corner of the park.

So bring some secular cheer into your Winter Solstice holiday season by visiting all of these wonderful displays!

—UPDATE!–

On Sunday evening, December 7th, the Chicago CoR banner was torn off its stand, and the disclaimer signs for both displays were severely bent out of shape.  The vandalism, the second occurrence in the last two years to non-theist displays in this public forum, was reported to the Arlington Heights Police Department.  The Freedom From Religion Foundation has also offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator(s).

But we are happy to report the damages to the banner and the banner stand were minimal and have been repaired.  It is back up for viewing at North School Park in Arlington Heights!

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