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Protesters cling to 10 commandments

Source: BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2977382.stm

  At least 30 people, including a number of priests, have been arrested in the American state of Ohio during a protest against the removal of slabs engraved with the Ten Commandments from school grounds. 

Several hundred people turned up to try to block workmen from taking down the 360 kilogramme (800 pound) granite tablets from two schools in Adams County, about 97 kilometres (60 miles) east of Cincinnati. A ruling from a federal judge ordered the removal of the Commandments from four schools in the district on the grounds that they violate America's strict division between church and state. It follows a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a local resident who objected to the display. Protesters turned out at West Union High School and Peebles High School to try to stop the ruling being carried out. Kneeling and praying, the demonstrators tried to block a crane from being used to cart off the slabs, but police moved in and arrested 30 of them - all without resistance. 

The many versus the few

A number of local pastors were among those carried from the scene by police officers. They were all later released without charge, however they failed to prevent the removal of the tablets - by Monday evening they had been stripped from all four schools and hauled away in a truck. Witnessing the scene, and taking pictures for posterity, was Barry Baker, the local resident who initiated the legal battle over the Commandments in 1999. Mr Baker told the WLWT television station why he wanted the tablets removed: "We have laws here. (The postings) are immoral." But residents are furious that such a small minority could hold such sway over what happens in local schools. "I think our rights are being taken away, just for the sake of one person," said Sharon Fulton, wife of Reverend Phil Fulton, one of those arrested. Protesters, police and school officials all prayed together after the last set of Commandments was loaded up and driven away. "These people are religious people and don't want to cause me or anyone else trouble. We're just here because there's a court order." Sheriff Kermit Howard said.

The Adams County school district plans to appeal against the court ruling and try to win the right to return the tablets.

Rael's comment:

Raelians should everywhere be pioneers in this kind of actions to protect freedom of atheism which is also protected by freedom of religion which is a part of the Human Rights. Do it everywhere.

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