Atheist Group Opposes Religiously Themed Songs at Halftime Show in Lake Hamilton School District

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Above: The Lake Hamilton High School Power Band won the 6A State Marching Championship at War Memorial Stadium on November 1. The band’s performance of “Revival” reportedly earned both high music and high visual scores. Photo Credit: Facebook Post.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation recently sent a letter to the Lake Hamilton School District in Arkansas urging the district to end “religious themes and messaging” in a school halftime show.

The halftime marching show in question reportedly was titled “Revival” and used the a cross, flags, and signs saying “sinners beware” and “repent now.”

The Lake Hamilton School District provided a statement to KARK News, explaining:

Their [the marching band’s] captivating show, “Revival,” drew acclaim from judges and fans alike, drawing inspiration from the great depression era highlighted in the motion picture “O Brother Where Art Thou” and other prolific concert band works. Undoubtedly, the Lake Hamilton High School Power Band’s dedication and talent were shown through each performance.

This isn’t the first time the Freedom From Religion Foundation has been active in Arkansas.

In 2022 the atheist group issued a statement celebrating the defeat of religious freedom amendment Issue 3, which narrowly failed at the ballot box in Arkansas.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has opposed public prayer at meetings and gatherings in Arkansas, and has filed a lawsuit to have a monument of the Ten Commandments removed from the Arkansas Capitol grounds.

In 2017 the group demanded that Governor Hutchinson stop sharing Bible verses on his Facebook page.

In 2016 the foundation went after Washington County election officials for using churches as polling places.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has even complained about the fact that that Arkansas’ public school students can study the Bible academically — even though it is one of the oldest texts in existence and has had a profound influence on human history.

As we have said time and again, it is worth noting that across the board, groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation tend to threaten lawsuits. If people stand their ground, these organizations rarely follow through by filing a lawsuit.

Religious freedom is a fundamental right in America, and groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation infringe that liberty when they work to purge the free exercise of religion from public life.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas A.G. Joins Letter Addressing De-Banking

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin recently joined 22 other state attorneys general in a public letter addressing the rising trend of politicized de-banking.

The letter urges proxy voting advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Service and Glass Lewis to give equal treatment and provide transparency in their advice regarding shareholder resolutions that address de-banking.

Family Council has written repeatedly about how de-banking hurts charities and conservative causes.

In 2021, our credit card processor — a company owned by Chase Bank — canceled our account with virtually no notice and no explanation.

In 2022, Chase abruptly closed the account of Ambassador Sam Brownback’s National Committee for Religious Freedom with little warning or explanation, and PayPal similarly disabled the account of a group called the Free Speech Union.

All of this prompted Arkansas and several other states to send a letter to the CEO of JPMorgan Chase expressing deep concern over the company’s pattern of de-banking conservative groups last May.

The A.G.’s letter to Institutional Shareholder Service and Glass Lewis voices similar concerns over these issues, saying,

Your companies, International Shareholder Services, Inc., and Glass Lewis & Co., provide proxy voting advice to many businesses and investors who are citizens of our States as well as to our States’ investment vehicles.

That voting advice directly impacts how our Nation’s largest companies operate. . . .

Your lack of transparency is troubling. And your voting recommendations on debanking proposals may breach your legal obligations. We seek more transparency and written assurance that you will cease any practice that violates the law, including your duty to act in the best interest of the citizens of our States, or your stated policies on recommendations.

Alliance Defending Freedom notes,

While billing themselves as viewpoint-neutral, both ISS and Glass Lewis regularly endorse shareholder resolutions for left-of-center causes such as ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). At the same time, the firms have consistently opposed resolutions calling for transparency and internal reporting on potential instances of politically motivated de-banking—resolutions dismissed by ISS as “anti-ESG” along with nearly every other conservative proposal.

You can read the A.G.’s letter to Institutional Shareholder Service and Glass Lewis here.

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Mayflower, Russellville Dedicate Safe Haven Baby Boxes; 23 Now in Arkansas

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The following is a press release from Arkansas Right to Life.

LITTLE ROCK – Two new Safe Haven Baby Box locations were dedicated this week in Arkansas bringing the total in the state to 23.

The new Safe Haven Baby Boxes locations are at the Mayflower Police Station and Russellville Fire Department Station No. 3.

The Mayflower Baby Box is the first Arkansas location to feature the anonymous surrender option at a police station, said Safe Haven Baby Box Founder Monica Kelsey.

“For years police departments have been a site for the Safe Haven Law’s surrender, but we are now adding the condition of anonymity,” she said. “What is so crucial is protecting these infants and their brave birth mothers, if we can ensure they do not have to choose between protecting their infant or their identity we can end infant abandonment. We know the community of Mayflower will be better off for this additional measure of protection.”

Russellville Mayor Fred Teague said, “We, as the City of Russellville are grateful to be part of the Safe Haven Baby Box Network. Although we, as Fire and Police Departments, have always been safe options for surrendering a child, the Baby Box allows a safer and more secure option for parents who find themselves making this decision. This system will ensure the highest quality of care for the infants coming into our care.”

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are installed on the exterior wall of a designated fire station, hospital or police station. Other boxes in Arkansas are located in Cabot, Jacksonville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Springdale, Mountain Home, Jonesboro, Conway, Fort Smith, Maumelle, DeQueen, Nashville, Magnolia, and El Dorado.

Arkansas Right to Life has promoted the Safe Haven Law through a billboard campaign that began in Harrison in June 2019. Since then, billboards have been placed in 32 Arkansas counties.

Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, stressed the importance of the billboard campaign and mothers knowing about the Safe Haven Law. The Safe Haven Baby Box hotline number is listed on all billboards.

“The Safe Haven Law can help a mother to safely surrender her child to an official location, hospital, law enforcement or manned fire department in Arkansas or anonymously in a Safe Haven Baby Box,” Mimms said.

The Safe Haven Law, enacted in Arkansas in 2001, is designed to protect babies from being hurt or killed by abandonment by parents who are unwilling or unable to provide parenting. Under the law, a parent may give up an infant anonymously at a hospital emergency room or law enforcement agency, but in 2019 the law was amended to include manned fire stations as a surrender location. The amended law sponsored by Arkansas Sen. Cecile Bledsoe and Rep. Rebecca Petty also approved the installation of newborn safety devices at surrender locations.

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