MRFF Victory!!! MRFF Base Representative Swiftly Gets “Jesus Power Pulls Us Through” Sign Removed from Army Post Main Gate

Friday Afternoon, June 4, 2021

MRFF VICTORY!!!

MRFF BASE REPRESENTATIVE

SWIFTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY GETS

"JESUS POWER PULLS US THROUGH" SIGN

REMOVED FROM ARMY POST MAIN GATE

A large banner advertising the Vacation Bible School (VBS) at

Fort Sill, Oklahoma, sporting the slogan "Jesus Power Pulls Us Through," was prominently displayed at the post's main gate.

A local attorney who saw the sign wrote to MRFF: "This kind of messaging, particularly in this location, makes it appear that the US Army is endorsing an evangelical Christian VBS event, in ways that events for people of other faiths (and no faiths) are not promoted."

Fort Sill's MRFF Base Representative Sarah Kline quickly went to work, swiftly and successfully getting this overt message of Christian supremacy removed from its completely unacceptable location.

Before and after photos of sign on fence and fence with sign removed

Email from local Oklahoma attorney reporting

the Christian supremacist banner to MRFF

after seeing it while driving onto Fort Sill

From: "James M. Branum"

Date: May 31, 2021 at 4:16:53 PM MDT

To: [email protected]

Subject: Complaint regarding inappropriate signage at main gate of Fort Sill

Dear Mr. Weinstein and everyone else at MRFF,

I first wanted to say how much I appreciate your work in defending the separation of church and state in a military context. As a civilian lawyer (who primarily defends servicemembers in courts-martials and in administrative separation actions), I have often seen through my clients the ways that military officials (especially commanders, NCO's and chaplains) can violate these important principles, and the harm that comes when these issues are not addressed. So thank you!

I'm writing about a fairly minor issue, but one that I think is worthy of some attention.

Here are two pictures that show the problem:

Photo from car approaching Fort Sill gate showing sign on fence

This banner is posted at the main gate (Sheridan Rd. coming from Lawton) of the post and has at the bottom of the logo the phrase "Jesus' power pulls us through."

[...]

This kind of messaging, particularly in this location, makes it appear that the US Army is endorsing an evangelical Christian VBS event, in ways that events for people of other faiths (and no faiths) are not promoted.

I think a letter or other communication with Fort Sill would be very appropriate. If litigation results from this, I would be glad to testify about the banners, but otherwise would prefer that my name not be listed* as the complainant (I have cases at Fort Sill pretty often, and I would rather not alienate commanders I may later need to negotiate with). I do know other folks in the Lawton/Fort Sill community who share my concern.

v/r,

James

*Mr. Branum has since given MRFF permission to use his name.

Email exchange between MRFF's Fort Sill

Base Representative Sarah Kline and Fort Sill Garrison Commander Colonel Rhett A. Taylor

From: sarah kline

Sent: Monday, May 31, 2021 5:42 PM

To: Taylor, Rhett A COL USARMY ID-TRAINING (USA)

Subject: [Non-DoD Source] VBS Signage

COL Taylor,

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has received complaints about the signage for Vacation Bible School at the Sheridan Gate. Particularly, the slogan "Jesus Power Pulls Us Through" in this location, makes it appear that the US Army is endorsing an evangelical Christian VBS event. Also, due to only this event being advertised, it looks as if events for people of other faiths (and no faiths) are not being equally promoted.

As the MRFF rep for Fort Sill, I'd like to give you the opportunity to rectify this situation promptly as we've done with other issues.

Respectfully,

Sarah Kline

From: Taylor, Rhett A COL USARMY ID-TRAINING (USA)

Sent: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 9:00 AM

To: 'sarah kline'

Cc: Bloom, Lisa R CIV USARMY FCOE (USA); Glazener, Robert J COL USARMY ID-TRAINING (USA); Jones, Matthew M MAJ USARMY FCOE (USA)

Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] VBS Signage (UNCLASSIFIED)

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

Ms. Kline,

Thank you for bringing your concerns regarding the Vacation Bible Camp sign to my attention. I have asked my legal advisors to review the matter. I will update you after I have consulted with them.

Respectfully,

Colonel Rhett A. Taylor

Commander, USAG Fort Sill

On Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 12:00 PM Taylor, Rhett A COL USARMY ID-TRAINING (USA) wrote:

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

Ms. Kline,

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. After legal review, I have determined that there is concern with the signage and as a result the signs will be removed today.

Respectfully,

Colonel Rhett A. Taylor

Commander, USAG Fort Sill

From: sarah kline

Date: Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 5:18 PM

Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] VBS Signage (UNCLASSIFIED)

To: Taylor, Rhett A COL USARMY ID-TRAINING (USA)

COL Taylor,

Thank you so much for taking care of this so quickly. Very much appreciated. The MRFF is very pleased with this response.

V/R

Email from MRFF's Fort Sill Base Representative Sarah Kline to MRFF Founder and President

Mikey Weinstein sharing the good news that

the "Jesus Power Pulls Us Through"

VBS banner had been removed

From: sarah kline

Subject: Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Date: June 3, 2021 at 3:40:29 PM MDT

To: Mikey Weinstein

Mikey,

As the Military Religious Freedom Local Representative of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, I am pleased to announce that after receiving numerous complaints regarding a Vacation Bible School advertisement with the slogan, "Jesus Power Pulls Us Through" posted at the main gate, we have successfully petitioned for the signs removal as of this afternoon. This signage was problematic at this particular location, as it would appear that the United States Army is endorsing a specific evangelical Christian Vacation Bible School event to the exclusion of others as events for people of varying faiths (and no faiths) were not being equally promoted. Thank you and your organization, for all that you do in protecting Service Members’ rights to religious freedom within the force. It was a pleasure to be a part of protecting our country’s First Amendment rights dictated by the United States Constitution.

Sarah Kline

Military Religious Freedom Foundation Representative

Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Email of gratitude for MRFF and Base Representative Sarah Kline from Oklahoma attorney who initially reported the Christian supremacist banner

“Gratitude for MRFF’s work in protecting

the 1st Amendment at Fort Sill”

From: “James M. Branum”

Subject: Gratitude for MRFF’s work in protecting the 1st Amendment at Fort Sill

Date: June 3, 2021 at 3:08:04 PM MDT

To: Mikey Weinstein <[email protected]>

Dear Mikey,

I am writing this letter to thank you and Ms. Sarah Kline (MRFF local representative at Fort Sill, Oklahoma) for your fast and effective work in dealing with a first amendment issue at Ft. Sill.

But first a bit of background… I am a civilian attorney in Oklahoma who represents servicemembers in courts-martial and administrative actions. I am also a Jewish Humanist who believes strongly in the essential wall of separation between church and state.

On my most recent visit to Fort Sill, I was astonished to see a banner with an explicitly Christian evangelistic message at the main gate. The placement of this particular banner in such a public location sends an exclusionary message to not only non-religious servicemembers, but also religious servicemembers who are not evangelical Christians. It also sends a message of exclusion to the broader Lawton/Fort Sill community, many of whom have to drive through this gate every day for work.

When I reached out to the Mikey Weinstein at the MRFF, I didn’t know what to expect, but was surprised to hear back from him within an hour, and then was even more amazed to hear that within only a few days, they had secured the removal of the banner

I deeply appreciate the Military Religious Freedom Foundation for their work and especially for being ready to go to bat so quickly for the rights of us all. I am also very thankful to all of the people out there who donate to MRFF. Their ability and capacity to respond so quickly is directly related to this generosity.

Gratefully,

James M. Branum

Oklahoma City