Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers

Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers
Non-profit organization
Industry Education
Area served
 Iowa
Key people
 Russ Fulton, President
Website http://iowaatheists.org

Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers, Inc. (IAF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating in the state of Iowa, United States.[1] It is a social and educational group working to provide a community of support and friendship for atheists, freethinkers, secular humanists, agnostics, and other non-religious people.[2]

The current president is Russ Fulton, succeeding John Fruetel, who continues as a Board Member At-Large.[3] IAF is a member of Atheist Alliance International,[4] an affiliate of the American Humanist Association[5] and American Atheists, and a partner of the United Coalition of Reason.[6]

Bus ad campaign controversy

In August 2009, IAF sponsored a bus ad campaign, placing advertisements on twenty Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) buses.[7] The message of the ads stated "Don't believe in God? You are not alone."[7][7] However, four days after being installed on the buses, the ads were removed by DART,[8] who cited numerous complaints from people offended by the ads and insisted that the ads had not been approved by the advertising commission before being installed.[9] DART also assured IAF that a refund would be issued for the ads.[9]

On August 6, 2009, Iowa Governor Chet Culver commented on the ad, stating that he "was disturbed personally by the advertisement and [could] understand why other Iowans were also disturbed by the message".[10] The governor's statement heated the controversy, with the governor himself being accused of taking sides, divisiveness, and offensiveness towards the non-theist community.[11] In response, IAF wrote a letter to the governor, expressing regret with his remark and inviting him to one of the organization's meetings.[11][12]

On the same day, the American Civil Liberties Union questioned the legality of the ad's removal,[12] and requested a review of DART's advertisements policies.[10] Also on August 6, 2009, DART reported that after the incident received media coverage, they received more calls in support of the ad than against it, and proposed that IAF re-design its ad and submit it for DART's consideration.[10]

On the afternoon of August 7, 2009, the DART officials had a meeting with the representatives of the IAF during which IAF refused to consider running an alternate bus ad, stating that the removal of the ads is a freedom of speech issue, while DART agreed to update its advertising policies to "keep pace with [the] progress".[12] Later during the day DART announced that the ads would be restored on the buses in an unaltered form.[13]

As a result of the controversy, IAF membership doubled from what it was before the beginning of the campaign, while DART reported increased interest in bus advertising from other groups, including a religious one.[14]

The controversy, however, re-ignited several days later when a DART driver was suspended for refusing to drive a bus with the IAF's sign, stating that the sign goes against her faith.[15] On August 20, the ad was protested in downtown Des Moines by a local resident, who compared it to "pornography".[16]

In the beginning of September, DART adopted a new, "more open", advertising policy, which required formal approval of any ad's design prior to the signing of the contract.[17]

2009 winter bus ad campaign

During the 2009 holiday season, IAF launched another bus campaign. The message of the ad was "Being good for goodness' sake".[18] The ad did not generate much controversy and ran without incidents.

Other activities

In January 2010, IAF sent a letter to Iowa legislators, protesting the practice of official prayer at the beginning of each day of the 2010 legislative session.[19] The group maintained that the practice is a violation of the separation of church and state, as well as an unnecessary burden on the Iowa taxpayers, as the clergy members conducting the prayer are reimbursed for the prayer and the mileage, costing the taxpayers over $2,500 per session.[19] Another concern was the fact that the doors to the House and Senate are closed during the prayer, and no one, including the clerks, legislative staff members, and visitors are allowed to get out.[19]

In March 2010, the group protested the screening of "The Truth Project"—a DVD presentation by Focus on the Family, a conservative evangelical Christian organization—in the Iowa State Capitol.[20] The group organized an alternative event at the Capitol, bringing Dr. Hector Avalos, professor of religious studies at Iowa State University, to talk about the evolution of intelligent design—one of the topics covered by the Focus on the Family presentation.[20]

As of 2015, IAF's activities include community outreach and community service efforts with Meet-and-Greets at the Des Moines Farmer's Market,[21] and its annual School Supply Drive to benefit struggling schools within the local district.[22] Also in 2015, Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers was recognized for its activism efforts as the 2014 Affiliate of the Year by American Atheists at their 2015 Annual Convention in Memphis, TN.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Internal Revenue Service. "Online Version of Publication 78". Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  2. ↑ Official website of the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers. About Us
  3. ↑ 2015 IAF Annual Election results
  4. ↑ Atheist Alliance International (December 12, 2009). "Member Organizations". Atheist Alliance International. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  5. ↑ American Humanist Association. "AHA Local Groups". American Humanist Association. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  6. ↑ Official website of the United Coalition of Reason. Atheists Target Des Moines with Godless Bus Ads, press release. August 3, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 Cynthia Reynaud and Jason Clayworth. "ACLU questions removal of atheists' bus ads". The Des Moines Register, August 7, 2009.
  8. ↑ WHO-HD Des Moines. Resurrection for Atheist Ads, August 10, 2009.
  9. 1 2 WHO-HD Des Moines. Atheist Ads On Buses Pulled After Complaints, August 6, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 WHO-HD Des Moines. Atheist Ads May Come Back, August 7, 2009.
  11. 1 2 Rekha Basu. "Culver sends message of unacceptance". The Des Moines Register, August 12, 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 Cynthia Reynaud. "DART: Atheist group's ads will go back on buses". The Des Moines Register, August 8, 2009.
  13. ↑ Cynthia Reynaud. "Atheist ads will go back on buses, DART decides". The Des Moines Register, August 8, 2009.
  14. ↑ Cynthia Reynaud. "DART, atheist group benefit from ad debate". The Des Moines Register, August 14, 2009.
  15. ↑ WHO-HD Des Moines. Suspension For DART Driver Over Atheist Ad, August 19, 2009.
  16. ↑ WHO-HD Des Moines. Deadline For DART Driver Suspended Over Atheist Ads, August 21, 2009.
  17. ↑ WHO-HD Des Moines. DART Commission Approves "More Open" Advertising Standards, September 3, 2009.
  18. ↑ IAF official website. Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers Announces Winter Bus Campaign
  19. 1 2 3 Marc Hansen. "Hansen: When prayers fly at Capitol, someone gets mad". The Des Moines Register, January 13, 2010.
  20. 1 2 Lynda Waddington. "Atheists offer alternative to Focus on the Family series at Iowa Capitol. Iowa Independent, March 3, 2010.
  21. ↑ IAF at the Des Moines Farmer's Market
  22. ↑ IAF Annual School Supply Drive
  23. ↑ Image of IAF American Atheists Award plaque

External links

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