Jessica Ahlquist (born June 21, 1995) is an American activist and public speaker who filed a lawsuit in 2012 against Cranston High School West, where she was a student, to remove a religious prayer from its auditorium. The suit, Ahlquist v. Cranston, was filed with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union, and was ultimately decided in Ahlquist's favor. During the lawsuit, Ahlquist received hate mail and was verbally attacked by her peers, media outlets, and online. She received death threats, and required police escorts to and from classes.[1] On the day following the ruling, Rhode Island State Representative Peter G. Palumbo spoke on a local radio show and referred to Ahlquist as "an evil little thing".[2]
Since the lawsuit, Ahlquist has received a variety of media attention, and she has been an invited speaker at a number of events, including the Reason Rally, the Texas Freethought Convention and Skepticon 5.[3]
Two high-school students from other states have described their objections to school prayer as inspired by her activism.[4] She has received a number of awards, including the 2011 Thomas Jefferson Youth Activist and the American Humanist Association's 2012 Humanist Pioneer Award.
^Ng, Christina (January 18, 2012). "Rhode Island Teen's Battle Against Prayer Banner Has Gone 'Too Far,' Mayor Says". ABC News. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
^Goodnough, Abby (January 26, 2012). "Student Faces Town's Wrath in Protest Against a Prayer". The New York Times. Jen McCaffery (contributing). ISSN 0362-4331.
^Kotraba&, Kellie. "Teen Activist Emerges as an Atheist Hero at Skepticon". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^Metcalf, Andrew (June 24, 2012). "Ahlquist Inspires Two Others To Contest Prayers At Their Schools". Cranston Patch. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
JessicaAhlquist (born June 21, 1995) is an American activist and public speaker who filed a lawsuit in 2012 against Cranston High School West, where she...
Adam Savage, actor-comedian Eddie Izzard, Paul Provenza, PZ Myers, JessicaAhlquist, Dan Barker, and magician James Randi, and others. The punk rock band...
Oakland Raiders, Mark Van Eeghen. On April 4, 2011, 10th-grade student JessicaAhlquist filed a federal lawsuit aimed at ending the school's display of a prayer...
since gained almost 100 thousand subscribers. Mehta is the co-host, with Jessica Bluemke, of a weekly podcast named the Friendly Atheist Podcast, which...
case that occurred with another plaintiff in the state, JessicaAhlquist, in the case Ahlquist v. Cranston. On July 24, 2012, after receiving a letter...
Internet personality Serayah, actress, model and singer June 21 – JessicaAhlquist, student June 24 – Rex Lewis-Clack, pianist June 26 – Elizabeth Pipko...
"Leadership" track. 2012 Vote for Reason! Michael Werner, Mikey Weinstein, JessicaAhlquist, Chris Lombardi, A.J. Johnson, Rebecca Hensler, Steve Newton, Brian...
Lane, Susi Bocks November 9–11, 2012 Springfield Expo Center 1500 JessicaAhlquist, Richard Carrier, Sean Carroll, Greta Christina, James Croft, Matt...
produced their first video episode featuring Michael De Dora, Ed Brayton, JessicaAhlquist, and Jamie Kilstein. Previously, Chris Mooney hosted half of the shows...
supported by the shared and unique nature of their stapes. In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, the hoopoe is separated from the Coraciiformes as a separate...
" Ahlquist, Steve; Jame, Will (April 4, 2021). "1000 Paper Cranes Project: Asian Visibility rally and vigil at the State House". Uprise RI. Ahlquist, Steve...
of History, playing the role of Julia Child and rapping opposite Lloyd Ahlquist playing the role of Gordon Ramsay. In 2016, she also moderated a panel...
Benson Actress (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and singer January 18 Lloyd Ahlquist American internet personality January 19 Benjamin Ayres Canadian actor...
ItsJustSomeRandomGuy Creator of "Hi, I'm a Marvel...and I'm a DC" video series Lloyd Ahlquist United States EpicLLOYD, ERB Rapper, comedy theater, songwriter, co-founder...
Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023. Ahlquist, Steve. "Providence City Council inauguration a day of firsts and political...
"NoShame" Drake), rap battling against Bruce Banner (portrayed by Lloyd Ahlquist) then The Hulk (portrayed by Mike O'Hearn). In August 2015, Jenner won...
Machine. Vidcon.com (July 25, 2015). Retrieved December 29, 2015. Klein, Jessica (September 16, 2014) Rhett & Link Predict the Future of Video on 'Ear Biscuits'...
Union to remove a prayer banner displayed in Cranston High School West (Ahlquist v. Cranston); was among religious leaders who gave testimony at the Rhode...
(2024). The classification of birds is a contentious issue. Sibley and Ahlquist's Phylogeny and Classification of Birds (1990) is a landmark work on the...
Catlett, Lori Alan, Riki Lindhome, Kate Micucci, Peter Shukoff, Lloyd Ahlquist, Carlos Alazraqui, Eric Bauza, Tim Conway, Eddie Deezen, Nolan North, Rob...
Klobuchar for president". providencejournal.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020. Ahlquist, Steve (September 30, 2020). "Video and pictures from the Rhode Island...
ISBN 0-300-04969-2. Accessed April 11, 2007. Sibley, Charles G., and Ahlquist, Jon E. 1991. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular...
History three times since 2013, being played by Peter Shukoff once and Lloyd Ahlquist twice. On the show, he first battled against Ebenezer Scrooge, and later...
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