Free Speech Alley has housed its share of religious groups through the years, but this Wednesday, it will hold a spot for a student organization promoting the freedom to criticize religion. The organization Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics will participate in Blasphemy Day International for the first time this year. Matthew Shepherd, AHA president, said the organization’s main goal in Wednesday’s event  is to promote freedom of speech, not to offend religious groups. “I really do not see why people get so angry at this, largely because I don’t share the same beliefs as they do,” Shepherd said. Shepherd said Blasphemy Day commemorates the ill-received 2005 publication of 12 editorial cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper. A Facebook group for Blasphemy Day International describes the event as a “campaign seeking to establish September 30th as a day to promote free speech and stand up in a show of solidarity for the freedom to challenge, criticize and satirize religion without fear of murder, litigation and reprisal.”Shepherd said AHA wants to demonstrate secular students’ rights to openly disagree with religion.”You have the right to be offended,” Shepherd said. “It’s all right.” Shepherd said the group will hand out fliers about the Jyllands-Posten cartoons from 10 a.m. until at least 12:30 p.m., and AHA might set up a system for students to exchange Bibles for materials “promoting free thinking.”Lyz Liddell, senior campus organizer for the national Secular Student Alliance, said she expects about 70-100 SSA affiliate groups to participate in the event. Most groups are setting up information tables or other awareness projects, Liddell said. One organization is planning a blasphemous art challenge and another is encouraging students to “sell their souls” for cookies. Shepherd said AHA has few active members and has not coordinated other large-scale projects. “I would say the closest thing to blasphemy we’ve ever done is just setting up tables outside and denying the Holy Spirit,” Shepherd said. Shepherd said he expects some naysayers to approach the group Wednesday, but he thinks the overall reaction will be good. Curtis Lipscomb, Baptist Collegiate Ministry president, said he finds the event offensive, but recognizes AHA’s right to freedom of speech. “The Christian faith would not be antagonized if it was ineffective in changing people’s lives and did not further the kingdom of God,” Lipscomb said.  –Contact Emily Holden at [email protected]