A new billboard promoting the separation of church and state is going up at the Republican convention site in Cleveland, Ohio. It features Republican idol Ronald Reagan with a quote saying that there is no established religion in the United States.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FRFF) sponsored the billboard—which went up last week—and will remain throughout the GOP convention, which takes place July 18-21.

The billboard includes a picture of Reagan, with a quote that says, “We establish no religion in this country… Church and state are, and must remain, separate. – Ronald Reagan”.

Reagan made that remark in a speech to the Temple Hillel leaders in Valley Stream, New York on Oct. 26, 1984. The full text of the remark reads:

“We in the United States, above all, must remember that lesson, for we are founded as a nation of openness to people of all beliefs. And so we must remain. Our very unity has been strengthened by our pluralism. We establish no religion in the country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are, and must remain, separate. All are free to believe or not believe, all are free to practice a faith or not; and those who believe are free—and should be free—to speak of and act on their belief.”

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-President of the FFRF said, “The RNC needs to be reminded that our nation is predicated on a godless and entirely secular Constitution. The fate of our Establishment Clause hangs in the balance of the election. We’re not voting for the next president – we’re voting for the next Supreme Court justice.”

FFRF, a church/state watchdog group, will also be taking their message to the Democratic National Convention later in July.

Photo Credits: Patheos - Hosting the Conversation on Faith