American Atheists, Inc.

Post Office Box 158 Cranford NJ 07016

(717) 343-4881 www.atheists.org

February 15th, 2012

Colts Bus/ County of Lackawanna Transit System, My name is Mr. Ernest Perce V, and I am the Pennsylvania State Director of American Atheists, Inc. I'm writing this letter because I have received several complaints from citizens in Lackawanna County. American Atheists, Inc., and citizens of Lackawanna County would like to run a non-controversial advertisement on a COLTS Bus simply stating the word Atheists with our organization names and informing citizens of the area that they are not alone. We would like to refer the citizens to our websites www.atheists.org and www.nepafreethought.org. Jim Smith and his Board of Directors have found that this is a violation of their policies, namely that COLTS will not allow its transit vehicles to property to become a public forum for dissemination, debate or discussion of public issues. COLTS has directly denied American Atheists, Inc., and the citizens of Lackawanna County the right to freedom speech citing that the websites are debatable content. I remind you, the government does not have the right to deny free speech in or on a public forum. Our constitution is our protection that guarantees all citizens equality. The Colts Bus has featured ads saying God Bless America this is unconstitutional and a violation of the First Amendment. This God Bless America was posted where the route information of the bus is displayed. An employee of COLTS used County funds to endorse a religious message. The COLTS bus has run advertisements for oldforgetimes.blogspot.com which has absolute controversial topics of debate from people Hal Lindsey, who believes in hell, eternal torture and judgment and many other similar issues. Consider Adoption is a highly debatable subject to run on the front of a bus without a disclaimer of who paid for the ad. It appears that this message is directly sponsored and paid for by the County of Lackawanna. At the same time the citizens of Lackawanna County should be able to consider Atheism. I would like to resolve this amicably between the parties so that American Atheists may use the County of Lackawanna Transit System in its advertising of the word Atheist. I ask you to make the right decision in educating the Board of Directors for the County of Lackawanna Transit System to allow American Atheists, Inc., and our affiliate an advertising space on the bus. Below are the photos in the oldforgetimes.blog.com that are highly debatable subject to many of the citizens of Lackawanna County. The photos clearly show that the Board of COLTS is acting in a discriminatory manner. In the oldforgenews you will find Hal Lindsey who declares millions will be tortured by god, there are also references to sites that Jews who should visit to reconsider their beliefs, each are highly debatable topics. The wall of Separation between Church and State that has been protecting the citizens of this country from the encroachment of religion into government has and is being violated by the County of Lackawanna Transit System. In our current economy I would rather resolve this issue amicably between all parties than costing the citizens of Lackawanna County unnecessary monies in potential legal fees and court costs. Please respond to our corporate offices by March 13, 2012 with your final decision.

Ernest Perce V Pennsylvania State Director American Atheists, Inc.

Oldforgetimes.blogspot.com Hal Lindsey

Oldforgetimes.blogspot.com

Religious propaganda The church and Jewish Ideology

Old forge news blog