Freethought Day 2006 - Sunday October 8, 12-5 pm

You won’t want to miss this year’s Freethought Day gala on Sunday, October 8, from 12-5 pm in Old Sacramento’s Waterfront Park (Front and L Streets). The fifth anniversary of Sacramento’s annual celebration of reason, freethought, and church/state separation features a line up of top-notch speakers and entertainers.

Leading the bill is the nation’s first lobbyist for secular rights, Lori Lipman Brown. Ms. Brown serves as the Director/Lobbyist of the Secular Coalition of America, which works to “increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints within the larger culture and to protect and strengthen secular government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.” In addition to her lobbyist role, she is a politician, attorney, educator and activist, and served as a Nevada state senator from 1992 to 1994. Brown “directs the coalition's activities and lobby U.S. Congressional representatives on issues arising out of the inappropriate incursion of religion into civil law” and addresses the interests and concerns of America's atheists, freethinkers, humanists and other secularists. What a great opportunity to hear this national freethought hero in person, right here in Sacramento!

Returning as emcee is Mel Lipman, president of the American Humanist Association, known also for his stand-up comedy. (Yes, he and Lori are related – father and daughter. What a family!) Last year Mel did a stellar job keeping the program moving along and keeping the audience laughing all afternoon. Mr. Lipman is retired from full-time legal practice and currently works as an arbitrator and mediator while teaching constitutional law at the Nevada campus of the University of Phoenix. He has been a relentless advocate for Humanists and church/state separation and says that his biggest concern is "to counter the propaganda from people who think that people who don't believe in a supernatural being can't live moral, ethical lives."

First amendment advocate Michael Newdow also returns to Freethought Day with his eclectic mix of freethought songs. You may recognize Mike’s name as the attorney who argued before the Supreme Court against the “under god” verbiage in the pledge of allegiance.

Freethought Day favorites Roberta Chevrette and James Israel round out the event’s top-notch entertainment. These local singer-songwriters enjoy participating in the festivities and lending their musical talents to the cause.

In addition to fabulous speakers and great entertainment, this year’s celebration also offers much, much more!

• Reading of Mayor Fargo’s Freethought Day Proclamation
• Induction of new members to the Freethought Hall of Fame
• Education expo with representatives from local freethought groups, Sacramento County Voter Registration, Democratic and Libertarian parties, and Camp Quest

Co-sponsored by Sacramento’s Atheists and Other Freethinkers and the Humanist Association of the Greater Sacramento Area, Freethought Day has some serious goals behind all the fun it offers.

Education Goals
• Promote accurate understanding of the heritage of liberty of conscience
• Raise public consciousness regarding secular governance (legal neutrality)
• Educate the public regarding the contributions of freethought and freethinkers in advancing human rights and in establishing and preserving a religion/government separation in the United States

Community Goals
• Foster participation of organizations with mutual understanding of and support of the mission
• Present a positive image to the public
• Provide enjoyment for those in attendance
• Publicize freethought organizations

Freethinkers! This is your day so come out and show support for your rights and celebrate our nation’s tradition of church/state separation. We’ll see you there!