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Military Backs Off Equal Support For Non-Religious Rock Concert

By Howard M. Friedman

Last September, the U.S. Army base at Ft. Bragg (NC) hosted the controversial "Rock the Fort" concert sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  Groups such as Americans United complained that the concert was designed to proselytize soldiers and community members. (See prior posting.) In response to complaints, military authorities said they would give a comparable level of support to concerts sponsored by non-Christian groups. So secularists planned a "Rock Beyond Belief" concert that would feature noted British atheist Richard Dawkins as a keynoter and would include remarks from Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. However, according to a report yesterday from AP, concert organizers (who include Sgt. Justin Griffith) have now called off their plans because the Army is not giving them the same level of support as it did to last year's Christian event. Authorities are requiring that the concert take place at one of two indoor theaters rather than allowing a large outdoor event with games and activities. Also the base refuses to cover any of the expenses of the concert, even though it spent $54,000 toward the cost of Rock the Fort. Finally authorities said any concert ads would be required to carry a disclaimer indicating that Ft. Bragg was not endorsing th event, even though it did endorse Rock the Fort. MMRF's Weinstein said his group plans to file suit over Ft. Bragg's actions.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 04, 2011 (boomark / email).