28 May 2007
OPREP: Speak Out and Rally for Reason in Kentucky
WHAT: Speak Out and Rally for Reason in demonstration against the new Creation “Museum”
WHERE: Speak Out at the Hilton in Florence, KY and the Rally for Reason in Petersburg, KY
WHEN: Speak Out on 27MAY07 and Rally for Reason on 28MAY07
WHO: Supporters of science
The Speak Out and Rally for Reason were put together to protest the opening of the new Creation “Museum” by Answers in Genesis.
I attended the Speak Out on May 27th at the Hilton in Florence, KY. The Speak Out was a sort of Pep Rally for those attending the next day’s Rally for Reason. A host of wonderful speakers talked to a crowd of over 100 people. Organizers had to open up the room’s partition to access the room next to the original room.
The speakers at the Speak Out included Frank Zinder (American Atheists), Chuck and Nicole Smalkowski, Dr. Gretchen Mann, Carly Nichols and Melissa Hartman (Rally for Reason), Dr. Gene Kritsky (Evolutionary biologist), Dr. Helen Kagin (Camp Quest), Rev. Mendle Adams, Hemant Mehta (I Sold My Soul On E-Bay), Arene-Marie (American Atheists, Michigan), Blair Scott (American Atheists, Alabama), and Edwin Kagin (American Atheists, Kentucky).
The next day we headed out to Petersburg to demonstrate outside the iron gates, roving creationism guards, and guard dogs of the Creation “Museum.” The head count during the peak period of the demonstration was over 200 participants there supporting science and speaking out against mythology and superstition.
The Smalkowski family band entertained the participants. Additional speeches as well as an open-mic period kept the participants excited about the event. We also had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Lawrence Krauss, a professor of astronomy and physics at Case Western University and author of The Physics of Star Trek.
Press were everywhere at the event, including NPR (interviewing for Morning Edition), PBS (interviewing and filming for a documentary), Ohio and Kentucky newspapers and TV news channels. Video of the demonstration was also piped to CNN and was covered on Anderson Cooper during the 5 PM (EST) broadcast.
We had an excellent time at the Rally for Reason and speaking out in support of science and against mythology and superstition. It was an honor to stand alongside so many supporters of science and reason.
A gigantic kudos needs to go to the organizers of the Rally for Reason. Their professionalism showed through in one of the best-organized events I have ever attended. They arranged for a shuttle service between the designated parking area and the rally point, had visible vests to easily identify Reason for Rally staff members, and worked directly with the Boone County Sheriff’s office and with local land owners to secure our parking and staging area. The combination of the Speak Out and Rally for Reason was a powerful combination and served a great purpose for the scientific community.
Well done ladies and gentlemen, it was a pleasure meeting some of you for the first time and seeing others again.
As an added bonus, the Rally for Reason prompted the formation of a new atheist group in northern Kentucky, the Northern Kentucky Secular Society.
On the Net:
Rally for Reason
Rally for Reason recap video
Blair Scott’s speech at Speak Out
Northern Kentucky Secular Society
Answers in Genesis
Creation Museum
