I finally made it back to the US!
I finally made it back to the US after five years of being abroad due to COVID restrictions! I wondered if the day would ever come for me to return to the US as the Biden administration continued draconian COVID policies!
During my time of being abroad I had two children so my recent visit was particularly busy as I looked after the little ones and visited with family. However, I did manage to fit in some activity for Republican Atheists.
On September 13, 2023, I visited the Republican headquarters in Palm Desert, California. This location is managed by East Valley Republican Women Patriots, a very active Republican group. Besides being a meeting location for members and speakers, it also boasts a large conservative-oriented store called Patriot Store that sells a large variety of t-shirts, hats, flags, mugs, jewelry and more (shop online here). The women managing this location are brave to sojourn on as their previous location in La Quinta, California, was firebombed in 2020.
I stopped by Smokin Burgers in Palm Springs, California, to give it business because it was boycotted and threatened in 2020 after a nut job leftist doctored a social media post to make it appear that the owners attended the January 6 “resurrection.” The owners were featured in local media to discuss how they were threatened and harassed because of the false accusation that spread across local social media groups.
I also stopped by Riley’s Farm in Oak Glen, California, another location that has been boycotted by nut job leftists.
I hosted two Republican Atheists meet and greets for the public – one in Idaho Falls, Idaho on September 22, 2023 and another in Riverside, California on September 26, 2023. Unfortunately no one attended either meeting, which I greatly attribute to last minute planning on my part and holding the meetings during work hours due to my limited schedule. Nonetheless, I was glad to promote Republican Atheists and to receive support from RA supporters across the country. Some supporters expressed interest in starting chapters in their states so they could also host meetings.
While on the drive back to California from Idaho I stopped by the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. This is the second Trump property I have visited, the first being the Trump Tower in New York City. I had lunch in the hotel’s restaurant and browsed The Trump Store that showcased the infamous red MAGA hats up front and center. I like that there is no shame and that those hats are still on the shelves! I had already bought a MAGA hat years ago.
As I am writing this I am already back in Sweden. Time goes by so fast, especially when looking after children. I will likely be back in the US next summer.
In the mean time, it would be great to see atheist Republicans connect across the country! If you are interested in being a correspondent for Republican Atheists, feel free to respond to this email. I hope you had a wonderful summer and look forward to the holiday season.
Thank you for your support.
Best,
Lauren Ell
President
Republican Atheists
Lauren Ell is president and founder of Republican Atheists. She is a community developer, social influencer, marketing consultant and virtual assistant. She has identified as atheist since 18 years old and is one of the most outspoken atheist voices in the conservative arena. Visit Ell’s website and follow on Twitter and Instagram.