Freedom From Religion Foundation

Lawsuits challenging entanglement of Religion and government, government endorsement or promotion of Religion. In 2022, ffrf had two permanent court victories and filed two new major lawsuits. Ffrf halted a "bible in schools" class in ffrf v. mercer county board of education, filed in 2018. Ffrf's court challenge also stopped city recitation of the lord's prayer permanently in parkersburg, w.va. ,when a federal judge ruled in our favor. New lawsuits are: mays v. cabell county board of education, filed in federal court, on behalf of parents and students after huntington high school (w.va.) hosted a christian revival during school hours; and parker v. mcmaster, filed in south carolina state court on behalf of four taxpayers challenging a $1.5 million earmark for christian learning centers of greenville county. At year's end, ffrf had four other ongoing lawsuits. Ffrf submitted 3 amicus briefs before the supreme court. Ffrf maintained 7 staff attorneys, 3 legal fellows, 2 legal assistants and a total of 6 legal interns. Ffrf and the baptist joint committee for religious liberty released a feb. 2022 report, "christian nationalism and the january 6, 2021 insurrection." Staff attorneys wrote 515 formal letters of complaint, ending about 112 establishment clause violations. Staff attorneys researched and responded to more than 2,136 requests for information or help over first amendment violations. Ffrf's strategic response team and its d.c.-based governmental affairs director had 94 legislative meetings on capitol hill or with elected officials, 50 meetings with other groups, worked on several key federal bills, including overseeing lobbying on bill to memorialize thomas paine in d.c. that passed in 2022, and tracked more than 800 bills.

Publishing, broadcasting, and educational outreach. Published 10 issues of 24- or 28-page newspaper; 2 issues of private line membership newsletter; broadcast 53 weekly editions of freethought radio on 12 radio stations in 10 cities, with podcasts reaching more than 1.1 million downloads since beginning in 2006, including ffrf activism reports and prominent guests. Produced two more seasons of its tv show, "freethought matters," which aired in 13 cities, covering 27 percent of the us market. Aired "ffrf's ask an atheist" facebook live! Almost weekly. Launched the monthly "we dissent" podcast with other secular organizations showcasing secular women attorneys. Maintained major educational website with news updates, daily calendar, legal and freethought faqs and resources, facebook, and twitter. Published a freethought calendar and distributed ffrf-published books and educational products promoting its missions. Undertook a 50-state secular voter campaign with 1 ffrf member or couple per state in full-page ads in 1 or more state news dailies with accompanying billboards in many states. Ran periodic ads in the nation and progressive and several other dailies, and a monthly one-third page educational ad in scientific american. Ffrf for the first time was able to run a 30-second tv spot by ron reagan on cbs's "60 minutes," plus "the late show with stephen colbert," msnbc's "rachel maddow show, and "the daily show." Ffrf had 25 chapters around the country.

Educational events, convention, meetings, media appearances, speeches, debates, travel, and awards. Ffrf held its 45th annual national convention in san antonio with noted speakers including john irving. Offered freethought programming without cost and spoke at about 25 events, involving multiple staff members at chapter, regional, national and international events. Events. Ffrf co-sponsored the national conference of secular student alliance, the in-person women of color beyond belief conference, celebrate dissent and secular day of the dead. Ffrf sent out 63 legislative action alerts related to freethought or state/church separation, 423 news releases about ffrf activities and 186 blog postings. Staff also had several op-eds published. Awarded over $83,000 in scholarships to a total of 99 students in 5 separate essay competitions: college-bound high school seniors; black, indigenous and students of color; ongoing college; grad students and law students. Ffrf additionally gave $19,500 in tuition relief scholarships (5 students of color/first-in-family to attend college, working with black skeptics los angeles). Ffrf also awarded $26,000 in student activist scholarships to 9 recipients, some awarded in conjunction with secular student alliance. Distributed $25,000 to help seven nonreligious individuals flee persecution in islamist nations, gave $10,000 to groups bolstering women protesting hijabs and sharia laws, $41,464 to the polish kazimierza lyszczynskiego Foundation (polish atheist group) to help resettle ukrainian refugees, and $12,500 to think school doing outreach to promote education and secularism to bangladeshis.

Operation of freethought hall in madison, wi, and maintenance of library for members' use, and chapter rebates