Crowd of 500 turns out to rally against atheists' sign

More than 500 people from throughout Western Washington turned out Sunday at the Capitol steps to protest a sign a group of atheists erected as part of the holiday display inside the building.

The protest — organized late last week by a Federal Way man who said he was offended by the sign installed by Wisconsin's Freedom From Religion Foundation — drew Christian pastors, at least one state legislator and a handful of counter-protesters.

The rally was accompanied by a wide array of religious expression, including some religious banners, one or two anti-religious banners from members of the Revolutionary Communist Party, speakers on bullhorns calling for sinners to repent, and one sign proclaiming that God loves everyone, including atheists.

Using a loudspeaker, pastors prayed, sang Christmas carols and criticized Gov. Chris Gregoire for allowing the atheist sign in the building.

"The No. 1 thing is, we want the state of Washington and the governor to represent everyone in the state," said the Rev. Kenneth Hutcherson, the pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond. "But just because you must represent everyone in the state doesn't mean that you put up with intolerance from the people that you represent."

State Rep. Jim Dunn, a Vancouver Republican, called for the crowd to continue their energy and prayers.

"It is time to chase out of the house of God all the unbelievers and evildoers," Dunn said.

Some of the rallygoers entered the Capitol, which is open on Sundays, and a few took pictures of the atheist sign and of the festive holiday tree that has become a tradition in the rotunda.

Washington State Patrol Sgt. K. Mark Arras said the protesters were peaceful inside and outside of the Capitol, and no one reported any physical altercations.

The fracas began last Monday when Freedom From Religion erected a placard that celebrates the winter solstice and says in part that "religion is but myth and superstition." That is the wording that has enraged some Christians and irritated Gregoire.

The display is similar to one the group installed in Wisconsin's legislative building in past years, and that display also incited a reaction.

Group co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor told The Olympian last week that the group believes that a state Capitol should not be a forum for religions at all.

Gregoire, a Democrat, has said that Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna has advised that the free-speech rights guaranteed by the Constitution's First Amendment would keep her from interfering with the atheists' message.

After being stolen and returned, the atheists' sign is now cordoned off in an upstairs hallway next to the bust of George Washington, a sign from Hutcherson's church mocking the atheists' sign, a traditional nativity display and two other religious signs.

Other religious displays in the Capitol include the Association of Washington Business' holiday tree, which the group uses to collect toys for needy children, and a Jewish menorah scheduled to be installed Dec. 18.

Susan Wilson, who organized Sunday's rally with her son, Steven, questioned the legality of having a worded sign in the Legislative Building.

"It's fine if you want to express your religion, but just no hate language," she said.

She said that the rally was against the expression on the atheists' sign and not a criticism of anyone else's religion, or lack of it.

"We're not with the groups that brought the signs, 'Atheists go to hell,' " she said. "We love everyone and let's be kind to one another. ... This was a way our family decided that we had to stand up for Jesus."

Dan and Carol Orr of Tacoma said they came to the rally after hearing about the sign on Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" and in their local newspaper, The News Tribune.

Dan Orr said he questioned the legality of having any sign with words posted in the state Capitol, as opposed to a wordless display.

"And beyond that, the sign is an in-your-face hate sign," he said. "It's not in keeping with the displays of the season."

Marcos Sauri of Seattle said that he doesn't usually join religious rallies associated with political causes, but he found the atheistic sign offensive.

"We all have freedom of speech, but for them to put down religion, isn't that more than freedom of speech?" Sauri said.

"It's really for the sake of my kids and their beliefs," he added. "This doesn't describe them — hardened hearts and enslaved minds."

A few of the protesters exchanged words with Olympia residents Alex Bertolucci and Victor Sanders, who brought signs that said, "Get Over It."

"We're not affiliated with the atheists or the Christians," Sanders said. "Our message is just get over it. We have two wars, and an economic crisis. Aren't there other things to worry about?"

Bertolucci said, "We want people to spend their energy on other things."

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.