Religion & Law

First Freedom Road Show

By John Pieret

First Freedom First, a joint project of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, will be airing a simulcast, entitled "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Separation of Church and State ? but Were Afraid to Ask!," in 25 theaters across the country. The free event will take place on March 26 at 6:00pm eastern, 5:00pm central, 7:00pm mountain, and 6:00pm pacific.

Peter Coyote, a celebrated Hollywood actor and filmmaker, will emcee the program, which is to include a performance by special guests, The Bacon Brothers. Actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael formed the band more than 10 years ago and continue touring nationwide.

Other actors and celebrities scheduled to participate include Michael J. Fox ("Family Ties" and "Spin City"), Jack Klugman ("The Odd Couple" and "Quincy, M.E."), James Whitmore ("The Shawshank Redemption"), Wendie Malick ("Just Shoot Me!"), Dan Lauria ("The Wonder Years"), Catherine Dent ("The Shield"), stand-up comedian and Air America host Marc Maron, singer/songwriter Catie Curtis and singer/satirist Roy Zimmerman.

In addition, Americans who have fought for individual freedom will tell their stories. Invited guests include Bryan and Christy Rehm (who fought creationism in Dover, Pa. science classes), Matthew LaClair (a New Jersey high schooler who exposed religious indoctrination at his school), Roberta Stewart (an Afghanistan War widow who fought for equal rights for Wiccan veterans), Dr. Susan Wicklund (who wears a bullet-proof vest to provide reproductive services in underserved areas) the Rev. Madison Shockley (pastor and reproductive rights advocate) David and Ryan Altoon (who oppose fundamentalist proselytism at U.S. military academies) Melinda "Lindy" Maddox (who successfully sued Alabama "Commandments" Judge Roy Moore) and Susan Jacoby (author of The Age of American Unreason).

A good, and educational, time will be had by all.
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Full post as published by Thoughts in a Haystack on March 20, 2008 (boomark / email).