BLACKCAT'S SPECULUM

Stonehenge Opened for Solstice!

For the first time since 1984, the world famous megalithic circle of stones called Stonehenge was opened to the public for the Summer Solstice. It was reported that over 6,000 people gathered at Salisbury Plain in the southern part of England seeking admittance.

Some public ceremonies last year were cancelled after a group of people had climbed over the fence surrounding the site, prior to the opening of the gates.

English Heritage, which manages the circle of stones, reported being pleased with the gathering, although it was a dark and cloudy morning. The Witshire Police which had 40 officers on the scene, reported only 2 arrests during the festivities eight hour duration.

In 1984, demonstrators asserting their right to have access to the historic landmark and to be able to perform ceremonies there, clashed with police. It was reported that police in riot gear had been stopping visitors and the police involvement at that time was very strict. Although there have been a number of special dispensations to certain authentic pagan groups to be on the site at sunrise for the Solstice, the violent demonstrations of the past, lead to the site being closed to the public for the Solstice until this year.

Modern day Druids and other pagans have been fighting to have open access for many years. According to an English Heritage spokesperson, the site will be opened again for events like this one in the future.

Texas Pagan Awareness League Celebrates Court Ruling

The Texas Pagan Awareness League, (TXPAL), http://www.txpal.org, issued a statement congratulating the Supreme Court decision (6-3) which upheld a Fifth Circuit Court ruling that banned prayer over the public address system before high school football games.

The case stemmed from an objection to prayers taking place before football games, made by four students at Santa Fe High School in Galveston, Tx.

"The Supreme Courts' decision shows an understanding by the Court that minority religions can be and have been discriminated against in schools, " said Jon Edens, TXPAL director. "TXPAL supports the opportunity for students to pray silently or meet in religious groups. The recent ruling does not negate this right, but it does protect those of minority religions from feeling pressured to conform."

The Texas group further pointed out that presidential candidate and Texas Governor George W. Bush filed a brief with the Court urging them to overturn the decision made by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. This would have allowed the broadcast prayers to continue before football games at Texas schools.

As a local side note, the Seattle Times editorial section voiced support of the Fifth Circuit Court ruling saying, "Such uncomfortable rulings are necessary to further define the constitutional difference between individual expressions of faith and government-endorsed religion... Highschool football may be a sacred part of American culture. But as long as the Constitution remains slightly more sacred, this national pastime cannot be a Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, Wiccan or even Christian-centered event."

Wiccan Activist named a Supreme Court Attorney

The Alternative Religions Educational Network, (AREN), http://www.aren.org, has announced that their resident attorney, Bonnie-Ann Brill Keagy, has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Bonnie Keagy is the first known Witch to be admitted to practice in front of the court. She has had many experiences in cases involving pagan rights as well as standard law practice, focusing primarily in criminal defense and family law.

Prior to practicing before the Supreme Court, an attorney must apply and be approved. It is considered a major accomplishment in her legal career and a highly respected position among other lawyers.

Ms Keagy has also authored several articles for Llewellyn Publishing under her pen name of Creide Stewart, and has been active in civil rights, religious rights and politics for many years. She is the mother of three children ranging in ages from 10 to 16.

Witches In Blair Again?

It has been reported that a sequel to the hit movie "The Blair Witch Project" is in the planning stages.

Joe Berlinger, who directed the HBO documentary, "Paradise Lost, the West Memphis Three" is slated to direct the Blair Witch sequel.

A leaked rumor indicates that the new film will also involve a group of young men and women being lost in the woods, as in the original. A noted difference on this excursion is that one of the women is an actual Wiccan, who expresses being upset over the way Witches have been portrayed in the first Blair Witch Project movie.

Correction - No Bomb to Dunwich Author

An addition to the Litha issue of "BlackCat's Speculum", made at the last minute by an editor, reported a letter bomb being sent to Wiccan author Gerina Dunwich. The report said a letter bomb had been sent, the police had been notified and that the bomb had been diffused.

In early June, Gerina did write to several contacts indicating she had received what "appeared to be" a letter bomb. She wrote that her intent was to notify other authors to be on alert.

Further investigation by noted Wiccan author and Police officer Kerr Cuhulain found that there was no police report filed and no letter bomb. The suspicious package Gerina Dunwich had received was turned over to the local post master; where it was found to be a hoax and discarded.

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