‘Threats’ prompt atheist rep to cancel meeting

Discussion

March 1, 2011

Jeff Waters Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Tue Mar 01, 2011, 07:55 AM EST

Live Oak — A scheduled meeting between the leader of a Lake City-based atheist group and the Suwannee superintendent of schools was canceled for fear of violence, according to Randy Lewis, director of Atheists of North Florida.

“We received threats of violence against us if we attended the meeting,” Lewis told the Democrat by email. “We have to take these threats very seriously. Because of the violent history of Christianity.”

Lewis had been scheduled to meet with Superintendent of Schools Jerry Scarborough Friday afternoon concerning claims of religious paraphernalia in local public schools.

Lewis said he would reschedule, but has not responded to further email inquiries from the Democrat, including questions about who may have made the alleged threats or whether he has reported them to authorities.

Lewis’s group first targeted the city of Live Oak for having prayer before public meetings, then attacked Suwannee County Supervisor of Elections Glenda Williams for allowing voting booths be placed inside churches. The group then criticized the Suwannee County Commission for allowing prayer before its public meetings. In a recent letter to Scarborough, Lewis said religion was “rampant” at Suwannee Middle School and Suwannee High.

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