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Teen Atheist Behind Prayer Mural Ban Wants Contentious WWI & WWII Cross Removed

May. 16, 2012 1:43pm Billy Hallowell

Teen Atheist Jessica Ahlquist Supports Removing Woonsocket Cross | Rhode Island

Jessica Ahlquist (left) (AP)

Jessica Ahlquist, the 16-year-old behind the prayer mural ban at Cranston High School West in Cranston, Rhode Island, just can’t seem to keep her name out of the news.

Months after she won her ACLU-led battle, the teenager continues to receive both attention — and threats. While she’s been quiet over the past few weeks regarding her take on atheist demands that a WWI and WWII monument in front of a Woonsocket, Rhode Island, firehouse, be removed, she’s finally speaking out.

Ahlquist, who was initially accused by some of having involvement in her state’s latest battle between atheists, believers and pro-military families, has consistently denied playing a role in the spat. But on Tuesday, she posted a message on her Twitter account that, at the least, clears up her views on the Christ-inspired memorial.

She wrote, “This should settle some of the confusion around the Woonsocket memorial controversy. I now support its removal.” Along with her message, she shared a link to a blog post purporting to republish an old article about the monument’s initial dedication in the 1920s.

Teen Atheist Jessica Ahlquist Supports Removing Woonsocket Cross | Rhode Island There’s no clear indication why she posted a link to the blog, CautionChurchAhead.com, but in sharing her views on the matter, she has certainly opened herself up to further criticism. Ahlquist’s tweet means that she is joining the chorus of atheists who view the cross as a form of discrimination being waged against them.

As previously reported, the Christian cross, which was built in Woonsocket back in 1921, is causing a great deal of angst among secularists who stand firmly opposed to its presence on public property. Taking on even more significance beyond WWI, the monument was re-dedicated back in 1952 to honor three fallen WWII soldiers who lived in the area and has since been a public statement of remembrance.

Image Credit: ABC6

In a April 13 letter sent from the FFRF to Leo Fontaine, the city’s mayor, FFRF staff attorney Rebecca Markert called the presence of the cross “unconstitutional” and claimed that a concerned citizen made the group aware of its presence.

Supporters of the monument, though, are fighting back and defying the request. Earlier this month, more than 1,000 people assembled in support of the religious symbol and the veterans it represents. The city of Woonsocket, too, has setup a war memorial fund to collect monies if, indeed, a legal battle ensues.

(H/T: WPRO)

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Comments (780)

kstansbury
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:05pm
I cannot wait for the Caliphate. As I feel this will be the only thing that will wake up the fools hating on God, Jesus, freedom, and their right to spew their hate. Oh that’s right you won’t have this under the caliphate and will be murdered for your voice and disbelief in Allah and the Koran.

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vorpal
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:02pm
give her some free contraceptives and maybe she will go away….

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JimL
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:02pm
“students of English literature are struggling because they don’t understand Biblical references.”
from BBC-today, Feb 2009

Dismantling culture one symbol at a time; she is going to need a bigger legal team.

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charles116
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:59pm
Why do conservatives, who like to wrap themselves in the constitution
have such an issue with the SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE THING?

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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:13pm
  charles116
  Please quote the section of the Constitution that says Separation of Church & State. Hint… it does not exist.
  
  Report this comment
- phillyatheist
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:24pm
  RIGHTWING is an Atheist regarding the Church/State Separation.
  
  Report this comment
- right-wing-waco
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:57pm
  phillyatheist,
  I am not an atheist by any stretch. There is no separation of Church & State in the Constitution. The 1st Amendment simply states that the federal government (Congress) cannot make laws to create a state church. Quote the section that says separation of Church & State.
  
  Report this comment
- phillyatheist
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 4:11pm
  perhaps you are aware of a thing called interpretation of the law. none of the Amendments stand on their own. the Establishment Clause has been interpreted by Justices over and over. they get what the Founders meant, and have ruled as such. feel free to disagree, but until you become a Judge you aren’t qualified to render decisions. essentially, your interpretation means jack squat!
  
  Report this comment
- mr.goodvibe
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 7:15pm
  AMENDMENT 1
  Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion ( respecting= in regards to, not respecting in the way that you respect another person ) or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
  
  The state can not establish a national religion as did the Crown in England ( Anglican ) What is the argument that this in any way means that religious symbols can not be displayed on public property. Not allowing religious symbols would be against the first amendment by limiting the fre exercise thereof.
  
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- mr.goodvibe
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 7:17pm
  AMENDMENT 1
  Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
  
  Report this comment
MBA
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:57pm
This spoiled brat has had more than enough attention, however, she needs a person tour of Normand and Auschwitz to truly understand what she is talking about. It’s not about the cross. What an *ssh*le.

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- charles116
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:02pm
  So you agree it should be removed?
  
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BassChick
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:55pm
I challenge you, athiest, to disprove the resurrection of Christ. Those that have attempted to do so have become Christian believers. I dare you.

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- charles116
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:00pm
  This is a Constitutional issue not a religious one.
  You’re very confused.
  
  Report this comment
- wvernon1981
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:21pm
  I know many, many atheists who have become atheists because thy actually cared about whether what they believed was true or not. My brother and I are two such atheists. If you look at the arguments on both sides, the Christian arguments fall apart, victim to at least ones logical fallacy or having a foundation based on falsehoods.
  
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Hickory
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:55pm
Who owns her?

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Ohevi
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:50pm
Seems like a near death experience might help her to not stomp on other peoples faith. Shes lucky, she doesnt live near me. ;)

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- charles116
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:01pm
  This is NOT a religious issue.
  Don’t display your ignorance.
  
  Report this comment
- phillyatheist
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:27pm
  so you’d only put her in a “near death” state? not sure if that makes you scary or a pansy. why not finish her? you’d be doing God’s work. a lifetime in prison vs. an eternity in God’s grace. maybe all good Christians should go around killing those who don’t believe like them? or at least, nearly killing them.
  
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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:50pm
What I find amazing is what appears to be a growing number of agressive atheists protesting who are intolerant of something they don’t believe in. This has resulted in a backlash by Christians.

Within the Christian community, Baptists are known to dislike Catholics and Catholics reciprocate. But we are publically tolerant of each others faith. Very rarely to we make public attacks against one another.

I have no idea if the boys memorialized on the War Monument are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or atheist. It doesn’t matter. The monument is for rememberance of young lives ended abruptly and painfully on behalf of America.

Atheists, please walk away from this. Your behavior dishonors those young men.

As far as this child goes, I don’t care what her opinion is unless she has an ancestor remembered on the monument. If that is true, a familiy member bought her the opportunity to make her opinion known.

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OldVet
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:50pm
Atheism is a religion. So what we have here is one religion complaining about another. The government should not get involved with a religious disagreement. Leave things alone.

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apollo18
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:48pm
This story is not about some witless knothole throwing a tantrum in the media. This is about Liberal Progressives stacking the SCOTUS since FDR. That’s where we need to focus our attention. Remember stunts like this and the Westboro Baptist Church the next time they try to jam another liberal sycophant on the Supreme Court. Do whatever it takes to fight for “right” when it REALLY matters. Not some empty wrapper like this moron.
Keep your eye on the ball.

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- charles116
  Posted on May 16, 2012 at 3:03pm
  Are you claiming we now have a liberal Supreme Court?
  
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karen162
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:47pm
She’s a little young to be so filled with hate, isn’t she?

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Pittakos
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:46pm
I wonder if it just drives this pathetic little brat nuts every time she has to drive through an intersection. I mean, after all, intersections are in the shape of a cross.

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mcsledge
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:45pm
One seeking 15+ minutes of fame. What a disgrace to America.

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dlivelli
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:43pm
It is really time for someone to tell that ignorant little twit exactly where she can go and what she can do….pictures may be of assistance!

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TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:43pm
I’ve a suggestion for those in the fight in her city.
DON’T SHOW UP FOR COURT.
DON’T ACKNOWLEDGE OR OBEY THEIR RULING.
STAND IN FRONT OF THE MONUMENTS AND DON’T MOVE WHEN THEY COME FOR THEM.
MAKE THEM ARREST YOU.

It isn’t that this woman doesn’t believe in God. She wants to prevent you from acknowledging God so she isn’t reminded whose side she is on. And she hates the God she supposedly doesn’t believe in. If she truly believe’s God isn’t real, why is she fighting the worship of something unreal so hard?

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right-wing-waco
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:41pm
I just looked up the phrase “dumb bi$h” in the dictionary and there was her picture.

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smokeyridgerunner
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:41pm
Maybe soon she will just disappear and no one will hear from her again.

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yosemitefan
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:41pm
Why cant she be allowed to the average godless child getting her belly button pierced and most dangling appendages and few dozen tattoos to display her disdain for herself and everyone…

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right-wing-waco
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:38pm
Send all the pathetic little anti-memorial idiots to Iraq and let them get shot at and killed. There is NO separation of Church & State in the US Constitution. Erecting a war memorial is not creating a religion. This little “girl” needs to be spanked.

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Sara72
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:37pm
I hope that our American people stand up to this troll and stand with our WWI and WWII veterans.

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pap pap
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:37pm
Heh Jessica STFU !!!

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foodforthought
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:36pm
Let’s remember, she’s only sixteen, and the depth of her logic is still very shallow. I recall when I was sixteen, I thought I had all the answers, and fought with my parents constantly. But, as I got older, somehow my parents seemed to get smarter. Who knew?

“If you are not liberal by the age of 25, you have no heart. If you are not conservative by the age of 35, you have no brains”.

So, let’s hope she outgrows this, but it would be nice if she kept her mouth for the next 19 years .

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apollo18
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:34pm
I know the Christian thing to do is to turn the other cheek, but since she doesn’t believe in that…..
Why doesn’t this little soulless imbecile choose to live in some atheist land? Communist Cuba or Russia comes to mind. This darling atheist (“he-he”) would be roasted on a spit after the “free press” is shoved away and “reality” gets it’s hands on her. I remember another atheist back in the ’70′s, Madeline Murray O’Hare. What ever happened to her? We’ll never know just like where the body is buried. “Be careful what you wish for”, Missy. For you may just get it….

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Sharon Rose
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 2:33pm
Poor misguided little drone, God will deal with her when the time comes.

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