Grandmother Spider's SpiritWeb

Lady Liberty League
ACTION ALERT
Support Wiccan Priestess Cyndi Simpson
in Pagan Civil Rights Case in Federal Court at Imbolc time

Please send blessings of strength, protection, and well-being to Wiccan priestess Cyndi Simpson and her legal team for the next phase of her Pagan religious freedom battle. On Thursday, February 3, 2005, her case goes back to federal court -- this time to the federal court of appeals.

Cyndi writes:

"On the morning of Thursday, February 3, 2005, oral arguments will be heard by the U.S. Fourth District Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, in my case against Chesterfield County, Virginia.

The hearing will be at the University of Richmond Law School, not the Federal courthouse, for the edification of the law students.

I filed suit against Chesterfield County in December, 2002 for denying me the opportunity to give an invocation before a Board of Supervisors' meeting, because their refusal was based solely on the specific content of my religious beliefs. To them, Witchcraft and other types of modern Paganism -- indeed anything other than the Jewish or Christian faiths -- are not true religions at all.

I won the initial court battle in the U.S. Court for the District of Eastern Virginia in November, 2003.

However, the County then appealed to a three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit. They have said they will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

What is at stake here, of course, is not only the legitimacy of Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, and other minority religions, but whether or not we as a nation really hold religious freedom as a value for everyone -- religion in all its diversity.

I ask the grace of all energy and support that people can send -- energy for the greatest clarity and truth and for the highest justice in all the proceedings.

I ask for energetic support for my legal team from the ACLU (American Civil Liberty Union) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State -- may they be eloquent!

Thank you all for what you may offer.

The blessings of Imbolc and Bright Brigit to all of you!"
Cyndi Simpson

HOW TO HELP

(1) Please remember Cyndi in your personal and group rituals, meditations, and gatherings at this Imbolc time.

A photograph of Cyndi to use in your workings, plus more details about her victory at the first level of US federal court, are published in the Winter 2003 Lady Liberty League Report:

Wiccan Priestess Wins Federal Court Case
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/report/winter2003.htm

Other background (Fall 2003 Lady Liberty League Report):
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/report/fall2003.htm

(2) Send Cyndi emails of support: cyndisimpson@hotmail.com
with cc: liberty@circlesanctuary.org,
with Support for Cyndi in the subject line.

Cyndi thanks everyone in advance for your blessings and emails of support.

(3) Please spread the word to others you know who may be able to join this outpouring of support for Cyndi. Forward this email or its URL, post on discussion lists, post on websites, announce at gatherings, tell others.
This LLL Action Alert is on-line:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/report/cyndi.htm

Thank you.

In Liberty,
Selena Fox
Executive Director, Lady Liberty League
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty
(608) 924-2216

Circle Times: Friday, January 28, 2005