Each year since 2010, representatives of the Freethought Society (FS) and leaders from many secular organizations have spoken at the Chester County Commissioners Sunshine Meeting advocating for the inclusion of the secular community symbol, The Tree of Knowledge, in the Winter Holiday public display that is placed on the grounds of the Chester County Courthouse located at Market and High Streets. The Tree of Knowledge was banned from public display when the Commissioners adopted Resolution 58-10 deeming that they, and they alone, would determine which symbols would represent the secular community.
Since then, the Commissioners have determined that the secular community is sufficiently represented by the following items: A Santa Claus figure, candy canes, reindeer, and/or a wire train with white lights. FS contends that these items are not representative of secularists. Year after year, FS conducts an effort to convince the Commissioners that only The Tree of Knowledge symbol is acceptable as a secular winter symbol.
Another attempt to reason with the Commissioners will take place on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 10:00 AM.
- The location of the Sunshine Meeting is: 313 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.
- Please go to the sixth floor Commissioners Board Room.
- Please be prepared to speak in support of displaying and including the Tree of Knowledge during the 2016 Winter Holiday public display.
- If you do not want to speak, please make a hand-held sign stating “I support The Tree of Knowledge” to hold up so that the Commissioners know your position in the matter.
Scheduled to address the Commissioners are Hugh Taft-Morales (Ethical Humanist Society Leader), and Glen Loev (vice-president of FS and a representative from the secular Jewish community).
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