Scouting for All Action Alert

March 1, 21, 2004
For Immediate Release and Distribution
For further Information Contact
Scott Cozza, Pres., Scouting for All
707-778-0564
cozzahived (at) aol.com , www.scoutingforall.org

Scouting for All Is Asking For Your Help Organizing A Protest And Candlelight Memorial At The Boy Scouts of America's National Council Conference Being Held In Chicago, Illinois
May 19-21, 2004

Location of Events
Hyatt Regency
151 East Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL
Schedule Of Events

Wednesday, May 19
-Press Conference in the morning, Location TBA
-Protest All Day in front of the Hyatt
Thursday, May 20
-Protest All Day in front of the Hyatt
-Candlelight Vigil in memory of GLBT youth who have taken their lives because they felt like they didn't belong. Time TBA. We will walk from a determined location to the front of the Hyatt Regency with lighted candles. Each light will represent 100s of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth who have taken their lives because they felt rejected, like they didn't belong.
Friday, May 21
-Protest All Day in front of the Hyatt Hotel

We need assistance with the following

1. We need community leaders from various groups to step forth and volunteer to be on our planning committee. We'd like to have representatives from the GLBT, religious, non-theist communities as will as civil rights groups, PFLAG, GLSEN, and GLBT / GSA youth groups. Please contact Scott Cozza as listed above.
2. We need a list of media contacts for the Chicago and surrounding area, as will as national media.
3. We could use help with transportation the airport and our hotel to the Hyatt.

Statement of Purpose

Scouting for All members / volunteers, concerned individuals, and community groups will be leading a protest and a candlelight memorial vigil at the Boy Scouts of America's National conference. Scouting for All is asking assistance from its individual members and supporters as well as national and community based organizations, GLBT groups, religious and non-theist groups in Chicago and surrounding communities. We will be organizing a protest at the Boy Scouts of America's Annual National Conference for Scout Councils. This will be the 4th year we have lead a protest at this conference. BSA national leadership from Irving Texas and scout councils from every state in the country will be attending the conference in Chicago. They will be discussing policy and the future of scouting in America. For those of you who are not in the Chicago area, but know an individual or organization in the area please pass this Action Alert on to them.

We will all be standing together to defend the rights of our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and non-theist youth and adults. The current leadership of the Boy Scouts of America have corrupted both the Scout Oath and Law for their own political and religious agendas by discriminating against GLBT and atheist youth and adults. Scouting was founded for all youth to participate in not just some youth. There is no room in Scouting for bigotry and discrimination of any form. In fact there is no room in American society for discrimination. We ask you to become a voice against the social injustice of the Boy Scouts of America by helping with our efforts to make this protest the largest we've ever had. Together we stand and together we shall overcome the social injustice of the BSA, which is a reflection of the social injustice that continues to prevail in American society.

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American Atheists Announcement Boy Scouts of America Protest Chicago, IL

American Atheists Illinois State Director Sandra Van Maren is coordinating Atheist participation in a series of protests of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) National Council Conference in Chicago, May 19-21. The protests are being organized by Scouting For All, a registered non-profit organization devoted to providing scouting opportunites for ALL youths, not just those who meet arbitrary philosophical, political, or sexual preference requirements.

Atheists will be joining gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youths and adults to protest the discriminatory practices of the current BSA leadership. This is the fourth year that American Atheists has partnered with Scouting for All to protest the bigotry and social injustices of BSA policies. Help make this protest the largest yet !

WHAT: Protest of the Boy Scouts of American National Council Conference

WHEN: Wednesday May 19, Thursday May 20, and Friday May 21, 2004

WHERE: Hyatt Regency, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago IL 60601

Please contact Sandra Van Maren for more details:

email: svanmaren (at) atheists.org
phone: 312-861-0329
mail: PO Box 2518
Chicago IL 60690-2518
web: www.atheists.org
www.atheists.org/il

For more information about Scouting For All, visit www.scoutingforall.org