Historic Simulcast For Church-State Separation Coming to a Theater Near You

I'm particularly proud of this event, as it's something I've been working on it for a few months now. This simulcast offers a unique opportunity for citizens across the country to hear directly from individuals who have placed themselves on the front line in the battle to protect our Constitutional guarantee of church-state separation.

On Wednesday, March 26, Actors, musicians and comedians will join church-state activists from across the country to put church-state separation on the national agenda during the 2008 election season.

In movie theatres in 37 cities across the nation, people will gather to learn about the threats to church-state separation and to demand that presidential hopefuls and candidates for other offices answer questions about key issues dealing with individual freedom. A list of 10 great questions to ask candidates will be featured.

Titled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Separation of Church and State … but Were Afraid to Ask!,” the program is being hosted by First Freedom First, a joint project of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation.

Celebrated actor and filmmaker Peter Coyote will emcee the program, which is to include a performance by special guests, The Bacon Brothers (actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael).

Other actors and celebrities participating 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, including: 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).

It is my firm belief the power of the blogosphere can help get people, who may have never heard these stories before, into one of the 37 theaters. From the presidential campaigns to city council races, candidates need to hear why protecting our Constitution and Bill of Rights matters!