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MRFF PRESS RELEASE – MRFF’S Post Hearing Statement

Published On: February 9, 2011|Categories: News|0 Comments|

Post-Hearing Statement from Darold Killmer, MRFF’s attorney

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

It is obvious that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s message of separation of church and state was heard by the Court and by the Air Force Academy. The Court took special effort to urge the Academy to walk more carefully in this area, and to make clear that such religious activities are not officially endorsed by the command structure of the Air Force Academy. While we respectfully disagree with the Court’s ruling on jurisdiction, we are gratified with the overall outcome of these proceedings. The USAFA 10th ABW Chaplain, Lt.Col. Dwayne Peoples, specifically thanked us at the conclusion of the proceedings “for the excellent education” we had provided through the course of this trial. The Chaplain of the Air Force gave us his firm commitment that he will redouble his efforts to make it crystal clear that the Prayer Luncheon is sponsored solely by the Chaplain, and not by the Command Structure of the USAFA. That was the very goal of this lawsuit, and we have accomplished that goal.

The Air Force Academy also knows that we will not go away. We will continue to serve as a watchdog to ensure that the constitutional rights of everyone at the Academy are zealously guarded.

Darold W. Killmer
KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN, LLP
Denver, CO


Federal District Court – Denver, CO
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
1:30 PM
Courtroom A602
Federal District Judge
Christine M. Arguello presiding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*MEDIA CONTACT:*
BEKKI MILLER FOR INTERVIEW ARRANGEMENTS

(337) 356-8696
[email protected]

ALBUQUERQUE – Albuquerque-based Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and its named co-plaintiff, R. David Mullen, will appear in Federal District Court (Colorado) Tuesday, February 8, 2011 seeking an injunction preventing the upcoming National Prayer Luncheon. MRFF’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction demands that the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) cancel the event on the grounds that it is a blatant violation of the plaintiffs’ Constitutional rights as guaranteed by the First Amendment. MRFF is proud to retain the services of renowned civil rights attorneys David Lane and Darold Killmer in pursuing this injunction. Judge Christine M. Arguello will preside over the hearing to be held at 1:30 PM in Courtroom A602.

COMPLAINT:
https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/docs/usafa_jan11/complaint.pdf

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION:

https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/docs/usafa_jan11/injunction.pdf

PLAINTIFFS’ BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MOTION
FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION:

https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/docs/usafa_jan11/brief.pdf

Please see below for links to articles
providing extensive background on the
USAFA’s National Prayer luncheon

Supporting Information:

MRFF’s January 20th, 2011 Demand Letter to U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould:
https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/2011/01/mcclary_demand/

A recent article from Truth-Out, which provides a thorough explanation and background information regarding USAFA’s invitation of former Lt. McClary, entitled “Onward Christian Soldiers … To Hypocrisy”:
http://www.truth-out.org/onward-christian-soldiers-to-hypocrisy67164

Another recent article that provides background information on former Lt. McClary’s invitation to USAFA’s prayer luncheon, entitled “Air Force Academy Speaker Thinks USMC Means ‘United States Marines for Christ'”:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/vietnam-veterans-of-ameri_b_812431.html

Military Religious Freedom Foundation website: https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/

*MEDIA CONTACT:*
BEKKI MILLER FOR INTERVIEW ARRANGEMENTS

(337) 356-8696
[email protected]

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