Atheist President Steps Down to Concentrate on Trial [View All]

[cleanhippie]

John Albert Kieffer, the president of Atheists of Florida, has stepped down temporarily to focus on his Nov. 7 trial involving a prayer incident at a Polk County School Board meeting earlier this year, an official with the organization said Wednesday.

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Kieffer, 61, of Tampa, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence. At a Feb. 22 School Board meeting, Kieffer along with Wachs were being disruptive.

The Polk County School Board changed its policies to hold the invocation prior to the official start of the meeting. During the invocation, Kieffer and Wachs took pictures and were speaking loudly. Chairwoman Kay Fields told Kieffer to leave but he said he wasn't violating any laws because the meeting hadn't officially started. Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Fred Murphy instructed two Bartow police officers to remove Kieffer and he resisted. Because the incident took place before the official start of the board meeting, there is no video recording of the incident although a brief audio recording exists.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20111019/NEWS/111019242?p=1&tc=pg