Feb 17, 2012

TRAMPLING ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM


February 17, 2012
Cheyenne, WY-(WyWatch Family Action) President Obama is not the only one trampling on religious freedom!

We have a prime example of this in our own state government! On Tuesday, February 14, 2012, three groups of no more than 10 teenagers supervised by an adult were walking through the Wyoming State Capitol praying quietly in groups. They were approached by the Wyoming Highway Patrol who is in charge of security at the state capitol and were politely told they needed a permit to continue to pray through the capitol. These teens and their adult chaperones did not know this policy was in place. So they left the building and went back to talk to the organizers of the prayer time. Turned out the organizers had a permit, they showed it to the Highway Patrol Officers and they next day there were allowed to continue their prayer time.

WyWatch Family Action learned of the new policy and started asking questions. Turns out that in January when the State Building Commission, which consists of Governor Matt Mead, Secretary of State of State Max Maxfield, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, State Treasurer Joe Meyer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill, met they voted to implement a new set of policies. We were informed that part of that new policy is that anytime a group of citizens hold hands, bows their heads, and prays to their Heavenly Father in our state capitol building it is considered to be a “DEMONSTRATION.”

Because prayer is considered a Demonstration it is no longer allowed as the current policy clearly states on page 4, Section IV:
Applicants are not permitted to Use the Capitol Building interior for demonstrations or like activities.
Religious Freedom seems to be under attack in our own state in the peoples Capitol Building by our elected officials who sit on the State Building Commission. Do the people of Wyoming really believe that prayer is a demonstration? Do they truly believe that prayer in groups should not be allowed.

Remember, our state legislature opens each morning in prayer in both chambers. Lobbyists and citizens join them while standing in the balcony and lobby. They do not break policy during this time, but step out of the lobby and pray with a group of your friends and you are now DEMONSTRATING?

The SBC who is chaired by Governor Matt Mead needs to correct this policy as quickly as possible, don’t you agree?

Apparently, our Governor and other elected officials serving on the State Building Commission either do not understand what the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States says or they willfully choose to ignore it! It says:
“Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right to the people to peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Our Wyoming State Constitution in section 97-1-037 states:
“The State of Wyoming is an inseparable part of the federal union, and the constitution of the
United States is the supreme law of the land.”
How can our State Building Commission blatantly ignore the “supreme law of the land” and think they can
require people to get a permit to pray.

How can our Governor and other elected officials who sit on the SBC adapt a mindset that the State Capitol does not belong to the citizens of Wyoming? To be fair, it should be noted that Superintendent Hill voted against restricting religious freedom at the January meeting of the State Building Commission when this new policy was implemented.

Call Governor Matt Mead at (307) 777-7434 first thing Monday Morning and ask him to stand for the first
amendment and take the necessary action to correct this infringement of Constitutional Freedom in the
People’s Capitol Building.

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