Scientists, teachers, and students are under attack for questioning evolution

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***Public Education. Often the best way to stop bigotry and intolerance is to expose it to public disapproval. We do this by publicizing attacks on free speech through articles in newspapers and magazines, interviews with reporters, guest appearances on radio and TV shows, and information released on our web site (www.discovery.org) and our "Evolution News and Views" blog site (www.evolutionnews.org).

***Personal Assistance. When we learn about someone under attack, we contact him or her to see if we can help, including providing assistance in locating free legal representation from a network of concerned lawyers across the nation. When necessary, we will launch an investigation to bring out the facts. We may also contact public officials to ask them to act to defend a victim's academic freedom.

***Legal Defense. Groups like the ACLU are increasingly trying to use the federal courts to impose a gag order on honest discussions about evolution, and we must work aggressively to counter their efforts. In a pending court case in Georgia, for example, the ACLU is claiming that it is unconstitutional for a school district to tell students that evolution "should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered"! That's right, it's unconstitutional according to the ACLU to study evolution "with an open mind"! We have filed a legal brief with the appeals court on behalf of dozens of scientists who fear that the ACLU's position will further erode the right to freely examine both the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian theory.

***Grassroots Action. In many cases where a teacher or scientist faces persecution, we have learned that pro-Darwin activists from around the country have sent letters trying to intimidate public officials into denying victims their academic freedom. We need to organize supporters of academic freedom to weigh in on the other side so that public officials won't give in to such intimidation.

Our budget is a fraction of what pro-evolution groups have to spend, and the mainstream media are largely hostile and biased on this issue. Yet the vast majority of Americans are on the side of academic freedom when it comes to evolution.

According to a recent Zogby poll, more than 70% of Americans believe that "biology teachers should teach Darwin's theory of evolution, but also the scientific evidence against it." And the United States Congress has adopted a statement encouraging schools to teach "the full range of scientific views that exist" on controversial topics "such as biological evolution."

We can win this battle for academic freedom, but we need your help to do so.

Join our free speech action team today and you can help defend the rights of teachers, scientists and students across America.

As a member of Discovery Institute's free speech action team, you will receive periodic e-mail alerts letting you know what YOU can do to help defend the academic freedom of individual scientists, teachers, and students who are under attack.

And as a special thank you for your help, we will send you one of the following outstanding DVDs for free (your choice):

• Icons of Evolution, which tells the gripping story of how Darwinists censored high school teacher Roger DeHart from telling students about the debate over evolution.
  
  
• Unlocking the Mystery of Life, which provides a first-hand look at the scientists who are developing the theory known as intelligent design. This documentary has been shown on many public television stations around the country.
  
  
• The Privileged Planet, a new documentary about how many features of the universe point toward intelligent design. Darwinists recently tried to prevent this film from being screened at the Smithsonian Institution, but they failed!

Please don't delay. Right now, we are already fighting academic freedom battles in a number of states. Once the new school year begins in September, we can expect even more attacks on students, teachers, and science professors. Please help us stand up for these courageous individuals when they come under attack. Click here to join Discovery Institute. (Free DVD offer for new members!)