An atheist requested that a street be named in honor of Madalyn Murray O’Hair but the city council voted 6-0 against it.
Atheist Raymond Zbylut had asked the council to put up the sign on the stretch of 108th Street between West Maple Road and Bedford Avenue. He said the move would honor Murray O’Hair’s work to protect the civil rights of all Americans.
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Council members voted 6-0 to deny the request without discussing it.
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Councilman Garry Gernandt said after the meeting that he was contacted by close to 200 constituents opposing the Murray O’Hair sign.
“They said we should keep religious and state issues separate,” Gernandt said.
Councilman Franklin Thompson said his constituents also urged him to vote against the sign. “It was too divisive,” he said. “Our streets shouldn’t be used as a political football.”
But Zbylut took it well:
Zbylut said he wasn’t surprised by the council’s vote to deny the sign. “These gentleman voted their conscience,” he said. “And what they believe in, I respect.”
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