The FFRF Action Fund honors U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., as its “Secularist of the Week” in recognition of her becoming the newest member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. Schakowsky has now achieved a perfect 100 rating on FFRF Action Fund’s Dynamic Scorecard.
As the newest representative to join the Congressional Freethought Caucus, Schakowsky continues to demonstrate unwavering support for the rights of nonreligious Americans and the vital importance of upholding separation of state and church.
She earned her perfect score from FFRF Action Fund not only by joining the Congressional Freethought Caucus, but also by co-sponsoring key legislation such as the Women’s Health Protection Act, Supreme Court Ethics Recusal and Transparency Act and the Do No Harm Act.
“We extend our gratitude to Rep. Schakowsky for joining the freethought caucus and for working to create a more inclusive and just society for all Americans,” says FFRF Action Fund President Annie Laurie Gaylor.
The “Theocrat of the Week” is a hardcore Christian nationalist, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has declared him a “frequent offender” and has asked him to resign. FFRF has written four complaint letters so far this year about Walters’ outlandish statements and actions to promote devotional religious instruction in Oklahoma public schools. These actions and proposals include:
-Endorsing the shocking scheme to create a Catholic charter school entirely financed by Oklahoma taxpayers.
-Proposing that all classrooms include Ten Commandments displays
-Creating a religion-pandering committee pushing prayer and “expressions of faith in God” in public schools.
-Calling to ban 190 books, most having to do with LGBTQ issues, while advocating that the Christian bible be used as a classroom textbook.
-Going on Fox TV to claim there is “state-sponsored atheism” in Oklahoma.
-Calling the bible a “foundational document” and recklessly disseminating other culture war tropes.
-Saying American soldiers fought in World War II in order to defend the idea that “rights come from God.”
-Threatening retribution against the Tulsa Public Schools for properly taking action to keep graduation ceremonies free from imposed prayer.
Walters must stop using his office to perpetuate the Big Lie that this is a Christian nation, or he should resign. He is an example of the growing threat of Christian nationalism in the United States, and of public officials who openly espouse turning the United States into a “Christian nation.”
P.S. If you want to thank Rep. Schakowsky for joining the Congressional Freethought Caucus and earning a perfect 100 on the FFRF Action Fund Dynamic Scorecard, please share it with her via Twitter @RepSchakowsky.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues. FFRF Action Fund serves as the advocacy arm of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which has more than 40,000 members and works to keep religion out of government and educate the public about nontheism.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
