Last Wednesday, a federal judge ruled in favor of a 16-year-old student, agreeing that a prayer hanging in a public school was unconstitutional. Now that student, Jessica Ahlquist of Cranston, R.I., is facing the wrath of everyone from a state senator to her classmates.
First, Democratic State Rep Peter G. Palumbo called Ahlquist “an evil little thing” on a radio talk show. “I think she’s being coerced by evil people,” he said.
Some of her classmates, furious at the court’s decision, took to criticizing Ahlquist on Facebook and Twitter, even threatening her with “eternal rape in Hell.” Students even attempted a walk-out on Friday, in protest of the prayer’s removal.
Officials have since disciplined at least one student who made online threats against Ahlquist, and additional security has been placed in the school following the cyberbullying that began after the judge’s ruling.
Over the weekend, Internet citizens were quick to come to her defense, starting two Facebook pages to show their support. They had garnered 1,800, and 1,500 likes respectably, at time of publication.
“Seeing Christians on Twitter promising to kill a 16 yr old girl for being an Athiest and proposing a Holocaust on Atheists is quite sad,” tweeted Edwin M, an example of just one of many supportive comments.
Michael Calhoun created a Change.org petition in response to Palumbo, urging the Representative to resign, and Free Thought Blogs has asked its readers to inundate Palumbo’s mailbox with disapproving messages (as well as vote him out of office.)
“Unleash the Kraken on Peter G. Palumbo!” tweeted Martin Burn, in a message urging folks to email the Representative.
Ahlquist appears to be unfazed by the hazing—coming especially from those who say they are Christians—and engaged in a question-and-answer session on the social news site Reddit over the weekend. Her thirteen minute video response, uploaded onto her newly created YouTube account titled “AnEvilLittleThing,” has already been viewed 30,000 times.
In the video, she answers questions and dispenses advice related to atheism and talks about her future plans as an activist.
“I wouldn’t say I go shoving atheism down any one else’s throat, I just feel passionately about activism” Ahlquist said, before adding she’s fully embraced the “that atheist girl” moniker.
If you have a problem with the world… you should be doing what you can to make it better. The world isn’t perfect. We all know that. [W]e should all be working together… and one way you can do that is by speaking out.
Ahlquist added that she’s flattered by all the online support.
Ahlquist said she started the process to remove the prayer last November, and thought it would be easy “considering the separation of church and state—but it turned into this, instead, which is crazy.”
Ahlquist said she was “very thankful” for the Judge’s decision, as well as Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee’s support of the court’s decision.
“Hitchens would be proud,” wrote TheSonorama21 in a top comment on YouTube. “You are so strong and awesome! Keep being a badass!” commented woot450
In the ultimate show of support, YouTuber Jason Clifford Clement even wrote a song for her, as did DavidRussell323.
