For the record, atheist Jerome Bloom asked permission last year to put up a “Let Reason Prevail” banner in the Shelton, Connecticut’s Constitution Park, which says there are no angels. His request has been quickly rejected because it was considered “offensive to many,” according to the director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department Ronald Herrick. But there could not be a legal reason to exclude it. After many rejections, FFRF and Bloom eventually sued the city of Shelton, Mayor Mark Lauretti, and Herrick. Bloom never received a green light and the compromise was that he could put his message near a Nativity scene in a different park.
The banner was displayed on the Huntington Green and Bloom has permission for a banner to stand there for two weeks. The mayor post his own sign reading "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the City of Shelton" right next to Bloom's. When he came to the park to remove the sign on Dec. 26, after two weeks, Bloom found that it had been vandalized; he added that it was no surprise to him.
The sign’s controversial message read, “At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Bloom contacted the Shelton Police only to learn that it had been vandalized once before and the officer told him that it looked better when it was first reported. Bloom described the damage done to the sign as “slashes” from a “razor-blade”. Bloom said he doesn’t think the vandalism is a reflection of the views of the people within the city, because only a few people were displeased with it and “had the balls” for this to happen.
Last week Bloom was recognized as the recipient of the American Atheist Connecticut Activist of the Year Award, for his efforts in getting the Winter Solstice sign displayed on the Huntington Green. American Atheists is a non-profit activist organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists, advocating for the complete separation of church and state and addressing issues of First Amendment public policy.
“I was surprised to hear that I had won the award because I didn’t think my actions were that extraordinary, but I’m more disappointed to learn that my sign was vandalized,” said Bloom.
It remains to ask ourselves, would reason ever prevail? What about the equality of all people and of all banners? What about the freedom of expression?
Photo Credits: Patheos
