After Simple Request, Indiana Official Tells Atheists to Stop “Causing Trouble”
By Hemant Mehta, October 9, 2019

During a meeting of the Porter County Board of Commissioners in Indiana yesterday, there was a heated discussion over who could use the local courthouse lawn on December 6, where religious displays had previously been allowed.

For years now, a local non-profit group called Valparaiso Events has booked the space for a program called Holly Days. It falls on December 6 this year. In the past, the event featured a live Nativity scene.

There won’t be a Nativity this year for irrelevant reasons, but a question remains over whether any other group can also use the courthouse space that evening. The Northern Indiana Atheists requested space that same night for an informational table, display, and two signs.

But the Board said no.

“You want to be there for a specific reason,” (Commissioner Jim0 Biggs said.

“To celebrate the holiday,” (president of Northern Indiana Atheists Troy) Moss responded.

“I’m not going to sit up here and promote for you to be there at the same time as someone else to cause trouble,” Biggs said, his voice rising. “No one up here is denying you a date but we will dictate which day that is.”

“We requested it first,” (NIA vice president Daniel) Dick said.

Biggs was basically suggesting the atheists wanted cause trouble — not true — and that they were welcome to that space any other day, which suggests a preference for a Christian group.