Jessica Ahlquist

Jessica Ahlquist was born in 1995, and lives in Cranston, Rhode Island. She is the oldest of four children and the daughter of a firefighter and nurse. Ahlquist's family was religious, and she had been raised as a Catholic,{{cite web |last1=Ahlquist |first1=Jessica |title=TEEN RELATES HATE SHE ENDURED FOR CONTESTING SCHOOL PRAYER - JESSICA AHLQUIST |url=https://ffrf.org/news/video/item/16594-teen-relates-hate-she-endured-for-contesting-school-prayer |website=Freedom From Religion Foundation |date=February 6, 2013 |publisher=Jessica Ahlquist |access-date=May 28, 2021}} but after her mother fell ill, she began to identify as an atheist.{{cite web|url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-26/magazine/31094166_1_banner-school-prayer-school-board|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118202123/http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-26/magazine/31094166_1_banner-school-prayer-school-board|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|title=High school and its discontents|website=The Boston Globe|date=February 26, 2012}} She describes herself as "a nerd" who loves Harry Potter and Facebook.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/us/rhode-island-city-enraged-over-school-prayer-lawsuit.html|title=Rhode Island City Enraged Over School Prayer Lawsuit|first=Abby|last=Goodnough|newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 17, 2018|publisher=|access-date=January 17, 2018}} When asked if the court case inspired her to get into law, she responded that law might be her future.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDDmkcxFWKA|title=John Howell interview, Beacon Communications|website=YouTube|date=January 16, 2012}}

In July 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a letter to the school superintendent on behalf of an unnamed parent who complained about a banner at the school which contained a "school prayer."{{Citation| last = Brown| first = Stephen| publication-date = July 6, 2010| title = Letter to Superintendent| publisher = Rhode Island Chapter ACLU| url = http://www.riaclu.org/documents/CranstonschoolprayerdisplayletterJuly62010.pdf| access-date = January 29, 2012}} After reading about the complaint, Ahlquist decided to sit in on the school board meetings. She also created a Facebook page{{cite web| url = https://www.facebook.com/groups/179298715436387/| title = Facebook page: "Support the Removal of the Cranston High School West Prayer| website = Facebook}} to raise support for the cause. At an August 2010 meeting of the Cranston School Committee, a subcommittee was asked to make recommendations about the disposition of the banner; Ahlquist attended the public meetings of the subcommittee in November 2010 and February 2011. At the end of the November meeting, out of safety concerns, a police escort was provided for Ahlquist and one other person who spoke in favor of the banner's removal.{{cite court| litigants = Ahlquist v. Cranston| court = D.R.I.| date = November 1, 2012| url = http://www.rid.uscourts.gov/menu/judges/opinions/lagueux/01112012_1-11CV0138L_AHLQUIST_V_CRANSTON_P.pdf| accessdate = January 20, 2012}} At a contentious meeting of the full committee, she argued the case for the removal of the banner and a similar display at Bain Middle School.{{cite news| last = Crimaldi| first = Laura| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/jessica-ahlquist-rhode-is_n_1010091.html| title = Jessica Ahlquist, Rhode Island Student, Confident Her Side Is 'Very Strong' In School Prayer Mural Suit| work = The Huffington Post| date = October 13, 2011}} The committee voted 4-3 in favor of keeping the banner in place, despite a budget deficit and the threat of an ACLU lawsuit.{{cite news| last = Metcalf| first = Andrew| publication-date = March 8, 2011| title = School Committee Decides to Defend Banner| work = Cranston Patch| url = http://cranston.patch.com/articles/school-committe-decides-to-defend-banner| access-date = January 27, 2012}}

A lawsuit was filed in April 2011, with Ahlquist as the plaintiff.[http://www.riaclu.org/201104042.htm " ACLU Files Suit Over Cranston School Prayer Banner"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218230302/http://www.riaclu.org/201104042.htm |date=February 18, 2012 }}. American Civil Liberties Union. April 4, 2011 The Cranston School Committee had made defense arrangements with Joseph V. Cavanagh, Jr. and The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty which represented them without charge.{{cite news| last = Metcalf| first = Andrew| publication-date = March 29, 2011| title = School School Committee Finds Lawyers to Defend Banner| work = Cranston Patch| url = http://cranston.patch.com/articles/school-committee-finds-lawyers-to-defend-banner| access-date = January 28, 2012}}

In the January 11, 2012, Ahlquist v. Cranston ruling, District Court Judge Ronald R. Lagueux of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island ruled that a "School Prayer" banner posted in Cranston High School West was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, in part based on the United States Supreme Court's earlier rulings in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), Lynch v. Donnelly (1984), and Lee v. Weisman (1992), and ordered its removal.{{cite news| last = Winston| first = Kimberly| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/14/judge-prayer-banner-high-school_n_1205627.html| title = Jessica Ahlquist, Teenage Atheist, Wins Case To Remove Prayer Banner From Cranston High School| work = The Huffington Post| date = January 14, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://cranston.patch.com/articles/police-school-officials-investigating-online-prayer-case-reaction-for-cyberbullying |title=Police, School Officials Investigating Online Prayer Case Reaction for Cyberbullying |first=Mark |last=Schieldrop |work=Cranston Patch |date=January 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115230840/http://cranston.patch.com/articles/police-school-officials-investigating-online-prayer-case-reaction-for-cyberbullying |archive-date=January 15, 2012 }}{{cite news| last = Winston| first = Kimberly| title = Judge rules against prayer banner in R.I. school| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = January 13, 2012}}

On February 16, 2012, the Cranston School Committee decided not to appeal by a 5-2 vote.{{Citation |last= Crimaldi |first= Laura |publication-date= February 17, 2012 |title= Cranston Votes Not to Appeal Prayer Banner Case |work= ABC News |url= https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/cranston-votes-appeal-prayer-banner-case-15706199#.Tz3tb1G4J8E |access-date= February 17, 2012 }} The banner was removed, intact, during the first weekend in March, and the school and city agreed to pay the ACLU $150,000 in legal fees.{{cite news |title= Cranston agrees to pay ACLU $150,000 in legal fees, ending prayer-banner fight |url= http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/03/cranston-agrees.html |newspaper= Providence Journal |date= March 6, 2012 |access-date= March 6, 2012 }}

During the lawsuit, Ahlquist received hatemail and was verbally attacked by her peers, media outlets, and online. She received death threats, and required police escorts to and from classes. An unnamed student was disciplined by the school because of threats.{{cite news| title = Cranston student disciplined over comments against fellow student in prayer banner case; student walkout thwarted Friday| last = Armental| first = Maria| url = http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/01/cranston-west-s-2.html| newspaper = Providence Journal| date = January 16, 2012| access-date = January 28, 2012}}

The Freedom from Religion Foundation ordered flowers to be delivered to Ahlquist during the trial, but two local florists refused delivery.{{cite news| title = Florist found in Connecticut to deliver roses to Cranston West prayer banner opponent / Poll| first = Paul| last = Davis| url = http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/01/cranston-floris.html| newspaper = Providence Journal| date = January 19, 2012| access-date = January 20, 2012| quote = After florists in Cranston and Warwick refused, a Connecticut florist agreed to deliver the flowers.}} The group has filed a complaint with Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights and given Ahlquist $13,000 from support and scholarship funds.

On the day following the ruling, Rhode Island State Representative Peter G. Palumbo spoke on a local radio show and referred to Ahlquist as "an evil little thing". In response, her supporters began selling T-shirts with the words "Evil little thing" on the front. They committed the proceeds to a college education fund established for her.{{Citation|last=DeQuattro |first=Dee |publication-date=January 24, 2012 |title=Rival shirts go on sale amidst the banner controversy |work=WPRO News |publisher=WPRO 630AM 99.7FM |url=http://630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2379908&spid=37719 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707084003/http://630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2379908&spid=37719 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2012 }}{{cite news| last = Schieldrop | first = Mark| publication-date = January 27, 2012| title = As Committee Nears Appeal Decision, Banner Saga Reaches New York Times| work = Cranston Patch| url = http://cranston.patch.com/articles/huge-crowd-demands-committee-appeal-banner-ruling| access-date = January 27, 2012}} The fund raised over $62,000 which was presented to her at the Reason Rally on March 24, 2012, where she was an invited speaker.{{cite web|title=Reason Rally Official Schedule |url=http://reasonrally.org/official-schedule/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617121719/http://reasonrally.org/official-schedule/ |archive-date=June 17, 2012 }}{{cite news|title=Atheists raise $63K for student in RI prayer flap |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2012/03/26/atheists_raise_63k_for_student_in_ri_prayer_flap/ |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 26, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525201339/http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2012/03/26/atheists_raise_63k_for_student_in_ri_prayer_flap/ |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }} Ahlquist was also awarded the Humanist Pioneer Award from the American Humanist Association.{{cn|date=August 2022}} In 2013, she received a Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award in the education category.{{cite news |title= Ahlquist receives 1st Amendment Award |first= Elayne |last= Lodge |url= http://www.cranstononline.com/stories/Ahlquist-receives-1st-Amendment-Award,82497 |newspaper= Cranston Herald |date= May 29, 2013 |access-date= June 3, 2013 }} Religious leaders from the Rhode Island State Council of Churches rallied to defend Ahlquist and condemn the language used to describe her.{{Citation|last1=Smith |first1=Matt |last2=Sotnik |first2=Kathryn |publication-date=January 24, 2012 |title=Religious group defends Ahlquist |work=WPRI.com |url=http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/west_bay/religious-group-defends-ahlquist |access-date=January 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130062900/http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/west_bay/religious-group-defends-ahlquist |archive-date=January 30, 2012 }}

Several months after the case was closed, in April 2012, Ahlquist received threatening letters in the mail from individuals describing themselves as "crusaders". Police were still investigating as of 2012.{{cite web |url=http://cranston.patch.com/articles/ahlquist-family-told-to-get-out-of-ri-in-threatening-letter |title=Ahlquist Family Told to 'Get out of RI' in Threatening Letter |last=Schieldrop |first=Mark |publisher=Cranston Patch |date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2012}}

Ahlquist was an invited speaker at a number of events in 2012, spanning at least five US states and international media. She speaks at approximately one venue each month, including the Reason Rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2012, the largest gathering of atheists in history, alongside Richard Dawkins, Adam Savage, Eddie Izzard, Paul Provenza, PZ Myers, Dan Barker and James Randi. There, she was introduced as the Joan of Arc of secularism,Aratani, Lori, " 'Godless Rally' in D.C. for Recognition and Respect", The Washington Post, C1, C10; Sunday, March 25, 2012.{{cite web|title=Reason Rally - About|url=http://reasonrally.org/about/|access-date=April 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402171445/http://reasonrally.org/about/|archive-date=April 2, 2012|df=mdy-all}} and presented a check for the proceeds from her T-shirt sales. She also spoke at the Texas Freethought Convention in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://richarddawkins.net/events/2012/10/19/2012-texas-freethought-convention |title=Texas Freethought Convention 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018000616/http://richarddawkins.net/events/2012/10/19/2012-texas-freethought-convention |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }} Ahlquist is a frequent and popular guest on Freethought RI, a weekly radio show produced by the RI Atheist Society.{{cite web |title=Speakers Bureau - Secular Student Alliance |url=http://www.secularstudents.org/2011con/speakers#Jess |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=}} On June 25, 2011, she was a speaker at Center for Inquiry transnational in Amherst, New York and on February 6, 2012, in Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona, professor Richard Dawkins specifically discussed the threats Jessica Ahlquist had been receiving.{{cite web|last=Secular Coalition for Arizona |title=Dawkins, Faircloth, Cornwell, "A Secular Society Worth Saving: The Role of Religion & Secularism in Public Policy" |url=http://www.secularaz.org/news/official-news/dawkins-faircloth-cornwell-secular-society-worth-saving-role-religion-secularism- |access-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109145218/http://www.secularaz.org/news/official-news/dawkins-faircloth-cornwell-secular-society-worth-saving-role-religion-secularism- |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U6-bueQ3YQ|title=Dawkins On Atheist Teen Getting Christian Death Threats|last=WKAJ TV|date=February 13, 2012|publisher=|access-date=January 17, 2018|via=YouTube}} On August 16, 2011, she finished first place among the 2011 Best High School Individual Activist Award Winners, organized by the Secular Student Alliance.[http://www.secularstudents.org/node/3906 2011 Best High School Individual Activist Award Winners | Secular Student Alliance]. Secularstudents.org (August 16, 2011). Retrieved October 22, 2012.

On February 21, 2012, Ahlquist was interviewed live on CNN about the Cranston case.Jessica "Evil Little Thing" Ahlquist on CNN, Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science [http://richarddawkins.net/videos/645104-jessica-evil-little-thing-ahlquist-on-cnn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531065718/http://richarddawkins.net/videos/645104-jessica-evil-little-thing-ahlquist-on-cnn |date=May 31, 2012 }}"STARTING POINT WITH SOLEDAD O'BRIEN", CNN transcripts February 21, 2012 [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1202/21/sp.01.html]

John Figdor of the Secular Student Alliance stated "she's a role model to so many young people"."Jessica Ahlquist, Atheist, Receives Threats Over Prayer Banner Ruling; School Board May Appeal", January 28, 2012, Huffington Post [http://www.bcss.za.org/jessica-ahlquist-atheist-receives-threats-over-prayer-banner-ruling-school-board-may-appeal/]{{dead link|date=February 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} JT Eberhard of the same organisation called for nominating Ahlquist for the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal.{{cite web|url=http://freethoughtblogs.com/wwjtd/2012/04/18/let-obama-know-about-jessica-ahlquist/|title=Let Obama know about Jessica Ahlquist|first=What Would JT|last=Do?|date=April 18, 2012|publisher=|access-date=January 17, 2018}}

On April 26, 2012, Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola discussed the hate mail at Ahlquist's address in TYTUniversity, a spin-off from The Young Turks.[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/04/26/tyt-university-hosts-talk-about-the-jessica-ahlquist-hatemail/ TYT University Hosts Talk About the Jessica Ahlquist Hatemail]. Patheos.com (April 26, 2012). Retrieved October 22, 2012.[http://apocalisselaica.net/news/usa-canada/tyt-university-hosts-talk-about-the-jessica-ahlquist-hatemail]{{dead link|date=January 2018}}[http://coffeelovingskeptic.com/?p=1504 The Coffee Loving Skeptics » TYT on the Jessica Ahlquist attacks | The Coffee Loving Skeptics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203051042/http://coffeelovingskeptic.com/?p=1504 |date=February 3, 2016 }}. | (April 28, 2012). Retrieved October 22, 2012.

• On October 8, 2011, the Freedom From Religion Foundation named her the 2011 Thomas Jefferson Youth Activist.{{cite web |url=http://ffrf.org/outreach/awards/student-activist-awards/jessica-ahlquist-thomas-jefferson-youth-activist/ |title=Jessica Ahlquist, Thomas Jefferson Youth Activist |publisher=Freedom From Religion Foundation |website=Ffrf.org |date=October 8, 2011 |access-date=October 22, 2012}}
• On June 9, 2012, the American Humanist Association honored Ahlquist with the 2012 Humanist Pioneer Award, which was presented to her at the 71st annual American Humanist Association conference in New Orleans.{{cite web |title=2012 Humanist Awardees |publisher=American Humanist Association Annual Conference |url=http://conference.americanhumanist.org/details/awardees-and-speakers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909171113/http://conference.americanhumanist.org/details/awardees-and-speakers/ |archive-date=September 9, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/teen-atheist-who-brought-down-prayer-banner-wins-humanist-award-75737/|title=Teen Atheist Who Brought Down Prayer Banner Wins Humanist Award|website=Christian Post |date=May 29, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2018}}
• On August 19, 2012, Ahlquist was given the Judge George Alexander Teitz Award, for "commitment to the ideals of religious and ethnic tolerance and freedom" by the Touro Synagogue Foundation in Newport, Rhode Island.{{cite web|last1=Ahlquist|first1=Steve|author-link=Steve Ahlquist|url=http://www.rifuture.org/jessica-ahlquist-honored-at-touro-synagogue.html|website=Rhode Island's Future|access-date=March 20, 2015|date=August 21, 2012|title=Jessica Ahlquist Honored at Touro Synagogue|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323113538/http://www.rifuture.org/jessica-ahlquist-honored-at-touro-synagogue.html|archive-date=March 23, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• On May 22, 2013, Ahlquist was honored with the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award in the Education category.{{cite news|title=Winners Announced for 2013 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/15/ca-hmh-foundation-idUSnBw155488a+100+BSW20130515|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140823/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/15/ca-hmh-foundation-idUSnBw155488a+100+BSW20130515|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|access-date=March 20, 2015|publisher=Reuters|date=May 15, 2013|quote=Jessica Ahlquist, a Rhode Island high-school student, who is being honored with a Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award in the Education category}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Jessica Ahlquist}}

• Stedman, Chris (January 5, 2014). [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402184304/http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/01/05/jessica-ahlquist-looks-back-ahead-2-years-ahlquist-v-cranston/?ref=leaderboard "Jessica Ahlquist looks back — and ahead — 2 years after Ahlquist v. Cranston"]. Religion News Service

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Category:1995 births

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