Summer 1999 Lady Liberty League Report Published in CIRCLE Magazine Kentucky Beltane Festival Successful Saving Miami Circle Stonehenge Update Manual for Wiccans in the US Military Witchcraft Books Remain in Library UK Pagans Continue Quest Pagan Land Destroyed in Cleveland Talk Show Misrepresents Wicca Wiccan Wins Right to Wear Pentagram Wiccans Obtain Space at Military Base Use this list to link directly to the article you wish to read, or simply scroll down for all articles Kentucky Beltane Festival Successful The 1999 Beltane in Kentucky Festival, held April 30 - May 2 in Menifee County, was a great success, despite protest and disruption attempts by local bigots.  Sponsored by Moonbeams and Angel Wings in cooperation with Oakthorn Green Farm, the Beltane in Kentucky Festival became the center of controversy, in part due to a local evangelist who crusaded against this festival in particular, and against Pagan spirituality in general.  The evangelist held three "occult seminars" the weekend prior to the festival which included movies about "Satanism." Further, a prayer vigil and a "welcome center" seeking to bring festival-goers "to Jesus" was set up near the festival grounds. The controversy received local as well as national media attention. With the networking help of Selena Fox and the Lady Liberty League, prayers and amulets of protection and strength were sent to the festival and its main organizer, Bill Lawson. According to Bill, the festival was went well with over 150 Pagans taking part.  Local police were supportive and promptly came to the festival's aid in response to a drunken attempt to disrupt the festival's main ritual.  Following this disruption attempt, the ritual continued stronger than before and, according to Bill, the participants "became one people at that moment, and the Pagan church we have been talking about manifested and came to life then and there.... Something wonderful and magickal happened that night."  Bill and others who helped with the festival send their thanks to all those who sent blessings and energy to the festival, stating that "the love you sent gave strength to our hearts in a time when we were taking our first steps back home." Saving Miami Circle   An ancient Native American sacred site, discovered by archeologists last September at the mouth of the Miami River in Florida, has thus far been saved from developers.  The Miami Circle, which measures 38 feet in diameter, is formed by 24 irregular cut basins which some experts believe represent marine animals.  It has 41 potholes on each side of the circle's center on the east-west axis that mark the Autumn Equinox and the Summer and Winter Solstices.  Human and animal remains, as well as human made artifacts, have been found on the site.  The Miami Circle is believed to have been built by native Tequesta Indians at least 2000 years ago. Brickell Pointe, Ltd. had plans to bulldoze the area for a $100 million commercial project, but amidst protests from many concerned Native Americans, Pagans, and others, county officials have blocked the developer from cutting up and moving the circle, and have taken steps to purchase the land under eminent domain proceedings.  The state has agreed to cover half the cost of purchasing the 2 acre property, valued between $8-50 million dollars.  Government officials hope private foundations will provide an additional $9-13 million dollars of funding.  For more details and information on how you can help, contact the nonprofit trust established to coordinate efforts to save the Circle:  Miami Circle Out Reach Group, 108 S. Miami Ave., Miami, FL  33130; http://www.miamicircle.org; (305) 373-3877. Stonehenge Update Following a recent court ruling that the public does have a right to peaceably assemble near Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain in England, as long as "it does not cause a nuisance or obstruction," police have decided not to implement their usual 4 mile exclusion radius around this sacred site on Summer Solstice in 1999.  The exclusion zone was instituted more than 10 years ago after clashes between police and visitors to the site. Access to Stonehenge itself on the Solstice, however, is still being restricted to about 100 people who must receive advance approval.  It has also been reported that new plans to return the monument to a more natural state by creating a "car free" zone around it could actually damage this ancient site.  Plans to build a tunnel underneath Stonehenge for rerouting of the road that currently skirts the edge of the monument is being opposed by archaeologists, Pagans, and others, who say the planned shallow tunnel could damage stone age features around the site.  A deeper tunnel that would not pose this threat would be a significantly more costly way to reroute the road and is being opposed by English Heritage, which is in charge of the Stonehenge site in  its present "tourist attraction" form. Moneys for development still need to be procured and a final proposal will need to be presented to, and approved by, a planning inquiry before any construction begins.  LLL is interested in hearing from Pagan individuals and groups who are organizing response to this situation so that we may pass additional information on to our readers. Manual for Wiccans in the US Military   Sacred Well Congregation has published a manual for and about Wiccans serving in the US Military.  Written by David Ordinderff, Ph.D., a Wiccan and veteran, and SilverDrake, this spiral bound handbook was written for US military personnel and their families, as well as for military chaplains and commanders.  It describes the Wiccan religion, its holidays, rituals, and major traditions.  It includes a section about philosophy, ethics, and practices across traditions, written for military chaplains by Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary.  This handbook ends with an annotated bibliography, suggested reading list, and guide to resources.  Copies are available from the Sacred Well Congregation for $20 US, plus $3 for priority mail postage.  Make check or money order payable to The Sacred Well Congregation and send to:  The Sacred Well Congregation, PO Box 58, Converse, TX 78109; http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5681 Witchcraft Books Remain in Library On April 13, 1999, the Board of the Hastings, Nebraska Public Library voted to keep 40 disputed books on Witchcraft, ghosts, and "paranormal" topics in the children's section of its library.  The request to remove the books had been made by two parents who, citing their interpretation of biblical scripture, proclaimed that the books should be moved to a different section of the library less accessible to children in order to protect them from the books' contents.  Other parents who attended the public hearing on the matter spoke out strongly against this censorship, stating that it is the library's role in society to provide information to all, and that it was a parent's role to decide which library resources should be available to their children.  The Hastings Public Library Board of Trustees voted 3 to 2 in favor of letting the books remain. UK Pagans Continue Quest The Pagan Federation (PF) is continuing its quest to receive charitable status in the UK.  As reported in the Fall 1996 "Lady Liberty League Report," charitable status previously had been denied to the Pagan Federation and other Pagan groups on the basis that Paganism is not a religion.  According to PF's Belinda Winder, the Pagan Federation resubmitted is application  on March 21, 1999.    This time the application was submitted to a different branch of the Charity Commission in hopes of finding a more favorable reception.  If their application is refused again, the PF does not plan to back down, and may consider looking to the press for further support while they continue to fight for the acceptance of Paganism as a true religion in the UK.  Circles, prayers, and letters of support while they await a decision from the Charity Commission are welcomed.  Contact: Belinda Winder, c/o the Pagan Federation, BM Box 7097, London WC1N 3XX. Pagan Land Destroyed in Cleveland On September 1, 1998, Cleveland city bulldozers ravaged a favorite Pagan festival site in Cleveland, Ohio.  The property which was attacked is owned by Frank Giglio, who had spent the past ten years developing his land as a spiritually powerful living ecosystem that included herbs, plants, statuary, and trees.  His land was attacked and destroyed without due process.  According to Larry Cornett, a Pagan activist assisting Frank in the aftermath of this destruction, Cleveland city officials pepper sprayed Frank's dog and destroyed Frank's car during the bulldozing, in addition to removing three inches of topsoil from the land and crushing and spreading glass bottles throughout his property to destroy the ecosystem. Previously, Frank had been cited for "weeds" and "trash" on his property, and he was in the process of preparing to respond to this citation at a forthcoming hearing.  However, the city destroyed his property before the hearing was held, afterward claiming a need for an emergency action.  The action preempted a trial, scheduled two weeks later, at which Frank's religion, the sincerity of his beliefs, and the need for a variance from the weed laws were the main issues cited in associated legal briefs. Several area ministers have offered Frank ordination as a Priest of the Goddess and the Spirits of Nature to counter this.  Local Pagans have pulled together to help in replanting the land, and Frank obtained a permit for bonfires on his land for use in the practice of his Pagan religion. Recently, Frank's situation has received front page coverage in a city newspaper, The Scene.  Volunteer assistance and funding for legal proceedings and replanting are now needed.  Contact Frank directly if you are interested in donating plants, seeds, or other things to help in rebuilding at (216) 687-9733 to discuss what is needed, and then send to him, 2288 W. 14th Street, Cleveland, OH  44113.  To send financial donations or for more information on how you can help, contact Larry Cornett, 890 Alhambra Rd., Cleveland, OH  44110; (216) 692-2124; lcorncalen@aol.com.    Please make donation checks/money orders payable to Larry Cornett, who is overseeing the collection of funds.  More details are located at Larry's website:http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/CALENDAR.htm. Also send to Larry documentation of the importance of natural surroundings and work with Nature Spirits as part of Pagan spiritual practice. Talk Show Misrepresents Wicca   Pagans of many paths have protested the anti-Wiccan remarks made by "Dr. Laura" on her syndicated radio talk show on April 8, 1999.  A 14 year-old called the show, with her mother also on the line, and asked Dr. Laura if it was all right for her to practice a religion that was different from her parents.  When the minor identified her interest in the Wicca religion, Dr. Laura incorrectly responded that Wicca is not a religion.  Dr. Laura also proclaimed that it is the parent's right to decide what religions their children should be exposed to.  Furthermore, although Dr. Laura said education about different religions was important, she said that this did not include education about Wicca.  She implied that once the minor grows up, she will see things differently and understand the error inherent in her being interested in Wicca.  LLL has heard from many Wiccans and other Pagans who were outraged by these statements and felt that the minor represented herself in a mature and intelligent manner, but was nonetheless misled and put down by Dr. Laura.  Many letters of protest have been sent to the Dr. Laura show, and LLL is interested in hearing reports from anyone who knows what response, if any, has been made by Dr. Laura to this feedback. Wiccan Wins Right to Wear Pentagram   On March 22, 1999, Crystal Seifferly won back her right to wear her pentagram openly at school.  A Wiccan and honors student at Lincoln Park High School in the Detroit, Michigan area, Crystal had been prohibited from wearing her pentagram since October 1998 when school administration adopted an anti-gang dress code policy.  With the assistance of the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Crystal sued her high school in federal court for a violation of her civil rights and won.  Witches Anti Discrimination League (WADL), Lady Liberty League, and other Pagan activists assisted in this case.  In the settlement, the high school agreed to revise its policy by removing "Pagans" and "Witches" from their undesirable groups list and agreed to permit the wearing of pentagrams as religious jewelry by students. Wiccans Obtain Space at Military Base   After seven months of negotiations, Charles Benkert and the Fort Barrancas Open Circle have at last obtained space at a US Navy Air Station in Pensacola, Florida to hold Wiccan religious services and provide support for Wiccans and other Pagans in the military there.  Their first ceremony on base, a New Moon ritual, was held on Saturday, May 15, 1999.  The Open Circle now takes its place on the list of other religious groups holding religious services on base, including Roman Catholics, Protestant Christians, Muslims, Mormons, and others.  Charles Benkert, a Navy veteran now retired, is a Wiccan priest and Deacon of the Sacred Well Congregation.  He first submitted a request for worship space on base in September 1998, and persisted in his quest, despite administrative processing delays and harassment from bigots in the local area.  Wiccan ministers and Pagan elders from several traditions assisted in the negotiation process, including those who are affiliated with the Lady Liberty League, Sacred Well Congregation of Texas, Pagan Military Network, and Circle Sanctuary.