After our initial success in preventing an “In God We Trust” plaque from being approved for display in the Clark County public hearing room earlier this month, the County’s Board of Councilors has revived the issue. Another meeting on this topic will be held on Tuesday, February 24th at 10 AM at the Clark County Public Service Center (CCPSC).

We encourage members of the community who are opposed to divisive language in local government to attend the meeting and to sign this letter. An informal rally will be held prior to Tuesday’s meeting in the plaza in front of the CCPSC beginning at 9 AM.

The letter will be presented to the Councilors during the time allotted for public comment.   While all are encouraged to sign, it is vitally important that as many citizens of Clark County as possible are represented in the letter. So please sign it, and share it with your friends and neighbors.

We, the undersigned, encourage the Board of Councilors to change the wording of the proposed new public hearing room display from “In God We Trust” to our original national motto: “E Pluribus Unum.”

The resolution in its current form is the brainchild of an out-of-state special interest group pushing similar legislation across the country. Both Councilor Mielke, the resolution’s sponsor, and the lobby group in question, In God We Trust-America, Inc. (IGWT-A), have admitted this is true. In fact, the original resolution Councilor Mielke introduced was copied nearly word for word from the “Starter Packet” on the IGWT-A website.

This organization does not represent the residents of Clark County, and should not exert more influence over the Councilors than their own constituents.

Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Washington states “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”

Yet, IGWT-A put out a statement on social media in response to our local issue, quoting the Book of Matthew and saying “We know that leaders are appointed by God. We know that God can pierce hearts and change communities. I ask you to join [us] in praying for Clark County.”

Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of the State of Washington states “No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment.”

Yet, this proposal would appropriate both public money and public property to enact a resolution with an implicitly religious motive which was crafted for the Councilors by an organization that promotes a Christian God.

If the Councilors’ goal is to display a national motto which honors our history and traditions—while also promoting unity—they should choose to display our nation’s original motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” and adopt the below proposed resolution.

Center for Inquiry (CFI)–Portland & CFI Vancouver Skeptics
Secular Coalition for Washington
Secular Coalition for Oregon
FFRF – Portland Area Chapter
Humanists of Greater Portland
Freethinkers of Portland State University
Humanists of Washington

Please Sign Using this Form

The letter has been delivered.   Thank you!

…and Let Other People Know!

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Signers

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Number of Signatures: [yawpp-num-signs-2]

Text Of The Resolution