Victory in Huntsville!
November 24, 2009
We want to commend the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (“USSRC”) for opening its facilities to host a private screening of The Mysterious Islands this week. Last week, I reported that Vision Forum was denied an opportunity to rent out a theater at the USSRC in Huntsville, Alabama after we were told we could do so on the date we wanted, November 25. We appealed the decision and found out from talking to the person in charge that the reason we were denied was because The Mysterious Islands was deemed “inappropriate” for this venue because it dealt with evolution.
Knowing that the USSRC was a government facility we contacted attorneys at the Alliance Defense Fund (“ADF”) for assistance. Today, attorneys at ADF sent a letter to the CEO of the USSRC on our behalf informing him of our First Amendment rights in this situation and asking for the USSRC to reconsider its decision. You can read the informative letter that explains our First Amendment rights by clicking here.
After sending this letter, first thing this morning we received a call from the CEO of the USSRC letting us know that they are now looking forward to having us host our screening of The Mysterious Islands at the USSRC on Wednesday night. The USSRC staff were cordial throughout the whole process and promptly responded after being informed regarding First Amendment rights in public facilities.
We are thankful for the willingness of the USSRC to work with us in this screening and we are grateful for the wonderful work of ADF.
If you are in the Huntsville, Alabama area please come out and join us at the USSRC, and why not make an entire day of it by enjoying the wonderful facility they have before viewing the screening of The Mysterious Islands?
To register to attend this event, please click here.
Read the Original Post Below for the Beginning of the Story
The Mysterious Island Rejected for Screening by The Huntsville Space Center Because It is ‘Too Controversial’ to be Critical of Charles Darwin’s Theory
After being given preliminary approval for a screening of The Mysterious Islands film, officials at the United States Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have rejected the film which is critical of Charles Darwin, as being too controversial.
A representative for Vision Forum Ministries had been given a preliminary go-ahead by event coordinators for the Space Center, but was later informed that The Mysterious Islands would be blocked from appearing at the theater after officials looked at the website and deemed the film too controversial.
The theater of the Davidson Center Auditorium at the United States Space and Rocket Center is a government-run agency and taxpayer-subsidized venue which is open to the general public for private rentals and screenings. According to federal law, it is not supposed to discriminate on the basis of religion.
Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.