History
Freethought Day commemorates a decision that took place over 300 years ago in Massachusetts. Activists venerating the decision instituted what has evolved into an annual outdoor observance in Sacramento, California.
History of Freethought Day
October 12 — One Step Forward
Over 300 years ago, on October 12, 1692, Governor William Phipps of the Colony of Massachusetts made a decision that brought to an end the horrendous Salem Witch trials.
A Christian, nevertheless he declared that spectral evidence (supernaturalism) would no longer be admissible in court, and so the trials, due to lack of appropriate evidence, came to an end. The governor’s decision was a distinct departure from the general community’s extant thinking and a giant step on the path toward the principle of legal neutrality that would, when the United States incorporated into its brand new Constitution a Bill of Rights, assure each U.S. citizen the freedom to follow his/her conscience regarding matters of ultimate belief.
In our increasingly pluralistic nation of today, the Freethought Day Celebration of Reason and Church/State Separation serves as a reminder that our courts and public institutions should be places of fairness and justice for everyone.
Freethought Day in Sacramento
1999 - 2001 The concept of an October “Freethought Week” is employed during three seasons of joint campus outreach by Atheists and Other Freethinkers and Humanist Association of the Greater Sacramento Area at California State University-Sacramento. To interest the students, outreach coordinator Mynga Futrell duplicates as part of the tabling materials “A Freethought Day Proclamation” she has obtained from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Oct. 12, 2002 First “Freethought Day” gathering takes place at the Sacramento County Courthouse and features reading of the Proclamation. There is singing of “Die Gedanken Sind Frei” and, along with remarks from several local speakers, commentary from invited speakers Bobbie Kirkhart, President of the Atheist Alliance International (Los Angeles), and Henda Lea, Coordinator of the Bay Area Communities of Reason (Hayward). Mynga Futrell and Jerry Sloan coordinate the event.
Oct. 12, 2003 Second public celebration is in Old Town Sacramento’s Waterfront Park. This year’s event introduces a pictorial gallery of nine independent thinkers, and the program centers around an assortment of mini-speeches featuring thirteen additional notables for their independence of thought and/or contributions to human progress. Displays include “A Freethinker’s Bookshelf.” Mynga Futrell chairs the event, with assistance from a 5-member committee.
Oct. 10, 2004 Sacramentans return to Old Town for the third annual celebration. Additions include: two freethinkers for the pictorial gallery, live musical entertainment, a banned books display, and a voting assistance table with a new banner (Learn/Think/Vote). Reading of a revised proclamation (endorsed by Sacramento’s mayor) with singing of the freethought anthem (Die Gedanken Sind Frei) are becoming a tradition for the event. Darrell Lambert (atheist boy scout) is featured speaker, and atheist Mike Newdow is featuerd entertainer. Beverly Church chairs a 6-member committee.
Oct. 9, 2005 At the fourth annual celebration, Waterfront Park was festooned with a huge painting by the featured presenter, Joel Pelletier, who also contributed to the live musical entertainment. Back once again were items fast becoming event traditions: book displays, voter registration, reading of the proclamation (again endorsed by the mayor), and singing of the freethought anthem. A magician and ventriloquist were on hand to entertain this time, and there were educational displays for the youngsters, along with a preview of the Camp Quest West coming summer, 2006. The event concluded with a "Reason Revival" skit to emphasize the theme of "Stand Up for Reason."
