The Baton Rouge community gathered in the Town Square on Thursday night to promote freedom of religion, enjoy cool weather and listen to jazz music at the Voices United Concert, hosted by the Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Thursday’s event was part of a national concert series happening this weekend in all 50 states. The Louisiana chapter of Americans United plans to hold an event in New Orleans on Friday.
“The idea is that if church and state are connected, we have no freedom of religion,” said the President of the Louisiana chapter of Americans United Tom Hannie. “We’re all about getting together to celebrate freedom and continue that tradition in this country.”
Ten members of the University’s Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics club volunteered for the event and helped with miscellaneous tasks, including set-up and cleanup. The club has about 200 members, according to AHA President and economics senior Alex Fuglaar.
Fuglaar believes promoting causes like separation of church and state with larger groups within the community and not just collegiate groups is an important aspect of what the club does. One of AHA’s core values is promotion of First Amendment rights.
Rev. Steve J. Crump of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge gave a brief speech explaining that freedom of religion is a constitutional principle.
“We’re here for democracy, not theocracy,” Crump said.
Former Building Manager for the University’s Lod Cook Hotel and Americans United member Al Aubin said events like the Voices United Concert are pertinent to students’ personal education.
“For the first time, [students] are away from their parents and have to make their own choices about how religion and government should interact,” Aubin said.
Hannie intended for the Voices United Concert to rally support for the cause of separation of church and state, but the event was also social.
The jazz music, performed by In Harmony Jazz, and refreshments drew passers-by into the event.
Larry Schexnaydre was driving by, heard music and pulled over.
“The weather’s perfect tonight, and I heard the jazz music. It’s not your typical pop band—they have an upright bass. It would have been criminal not to stop by,” Schexnaydre said.
