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Saturday, February 18, 2017


MRFF AND AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU)
SAN DIEGO JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT
RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY AT MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT
SAN DIEGO

PREFERENTIAL AND REVERENTIAL
TREATMENT GIVEN TO
CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS DISPLAY

JEWISH RELIGIOUS DISPLAY
REQUEST CALLED "PREMATURE"

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), on behalf of 27 active duty, retired, and veteran Marines assigned to or otherwise affiliated with MCRD who sought MRFF’s assistance, recently requested that individuals of the Jewish faith be allowed to place a Menorah or other symbol representing the Jewish celebration of Chanukah, similar in size and scope to the crèche, on chapel grounds during the next winter holiday season. The Staff Judge Advocate at MCRD declined to grant the request, contending it was “premature.”


SAN DIEGO's LEADING NEWSPAPER
SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE
COVERS MRFF's BATTLE AGAINST RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY AT MCRD SD

Marines accused of violating U.S. Constitution with religious display

Friday, February 17, 2017

The local ACLU chapter on Friday joined the Military Religious Freedom Foundation in publicly accusing Marine leaders of discriminating against Jews and other non-Christian recruits — an allegation the Corps' officials deny.

At issue is the creche erected during each year's Christmas season on the grounds of Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego to commemorate the birth of Jesus. In December, the lighted display was located near the base chapel and featured statues of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts to the newborn.

On Jan. 17, the New Mexico-based foundation petitioned Marine Brig. Gen. William Jurney — commander of the boot camp and the Western Recruiting Region — to let troops of other faiths put up religious displays near the creche. The foundation said it represents 27 active-duty, retired and veteran Marines affiliated with the depot. [...]

Click to read more


ACLU's San Diego & Imperial Counties Legal Director
David Loy's Letter to Commanding General of the Western Recruting Region Brigadier General William M. Jurney Regarding the Nativity Scene at San Diego Recruiting Depot

Sent Friday, February 17, 2017

Click to read entire letter


Initial Demand Letter from MRFF's Legal Affairs Coordinator
Tobanna Barker to Commanding General of the Western Recruting Region Brig. Gen. William M. Jurney
Regarding the Nativity Scene at San Diego Recruiting Depot

Sent Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Click to read entire letter


Response Email from MRFF's Legal Affairs Coordinator
Tobanna Barker to Staff Advocate J. V. Munoz Regarding the Nativity Scene at San Diego Recruiting Depot

From: Tobanna Barker
Subject: MCRD Response re Holiday Display
Date: February 4, 2017 at 2:10:18 PM MST
To: Staff Judge Advocate Munoz (email redacted)
Cc: Mikey Weinstein ([email protected])

Dear Staff Judge Advocate Munoz –

Thank you for your January 30, 2017 letter. However, your letter fails to adequately respond to our demand for a display celebrating the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. The vague statement that you will “take the matter under advisement” appears to be nothing more than a dismissal of our concerns. While we appreciate your assertion that MCRDSD/WRR does not expressly endorse any religion, the message of endorsement is clear when a Christian display is permitted, but no similar display celebrating another faith is allowed.

As we already informed you, MRFF has been approached by active duty Marines, retirees, veterans, and civilians of the Jewish faith at MCRD and in the adjoining San Diego Communities regarding the crèche and its endorsement of Christianity. On behalf of these clients, MRFF renews its demand that in the future, the crèche display be accompanied by the display of a Menorah or other symbol representing the Jewish celebration of Chanukah AND that such a display be similar in size and scope to the crèche honoring the Christian holiday of Christmas.

Time is factor in this matter – we must either begin negotiating the details of the requested display or we must move forward with legal action. Our clients cannot be expected to wait patiently, only to be forgotten before the holidays come again. If you are truly taking the matter under advisement, we must insist that you explain what that means: Are meetings being scheduled? Who will attend? Are any investigations into this matter being performed? Who will be accountable for the final response?

“We will take the matter under advisement” is what business owners tell customers with frivolous complaints in order to politely make them go away. However, this complaint is far from frivolous and we will not be appeased by vague promises.

Please advise no later than February 10, 2017 how exactly you will be taking this matter under advisement. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Tobanna Barker
MRFF Legal Affairs Coordinator


Lackluster Letter with No Direct Response to the Issue From Staff Advocate J. V. Munoz to Above February 4th Email by MRFF's Legal Affairs Coordinator Tobanna Barker

Sent Friday, February 10, 2017

Click to read entire letter


MRFF SENIOR RESEARCH DIRECTOR CHRIS RODDA'S
ARTICLE ON THE HUFFINGTON POST
AND DAILY KOS

NOW Joins Forces with MRFF to Get Sexist Religious Posters Removed from Military Base

Thursday, February 16, 2017

At the end of January, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) was contacted by an Air Force officer requesting MRFF's assistance in getting a set of posters currently on display at Air Combat Command (ACC) headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia removed. The officer sent MRFF photos of two of the seven posters, all of which quote AF Manual 50-21, an Air Force Manual from 1955.

As the officer (who is one of MRFF's sixteen USAF officer, NCO, and civilian clients, nine of whom are women, who are opposing these posters) said in an email to MRFF, the two posters that they sent photos of "clearly violate AFI 1-1, para 2.12. Their messages clearly advocate a higher value in religious Airmen over non-religious Airmen, and communicate a necessity for religious faith to be successful as
Airmen." [...]

Click to read on The Huffington Post

Click to read on Daily Kos


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