Legionnaires launch campaign to block ACLU attorney fees

California Legionnaire ^ | July/August 2004 | N/A

[LNewman]

(The California Legionnaire link has yet to upload the July/August 2004 issue available in PDF. Just received in the mail today.)

Organization seeks to remove or destroy crosses and other religious symbols

Veterans launched a campaign on July 4th in support of a Resolution adopted by The American Legion Department of California at its recent convention which calls on Congress to amend federal law to prohibit judges from awarding attorney fees to the ACLU in cases brought "to remove or destroy religious symbols."

Delegates to the Legion's state-wide convention held in Redding, CA, in June overwhelmingly, if not unanimously, adopted by voice vote Resolution 17-04.

The Resolution calls on Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act, 42 United States Code Section 1988, to prohibit judges from awarding attorney fees - at taxpayer expense - in ACLU cases brought to remove or destroy crosses or other religious symbols.

"The heartbeat of The American Legion's feelings was loud and clear in passing this Anti-ACLU resolution at the annual California State convention in Redding. We hope all who love this great country will join us in support of our efforts," said Willy Wilkin, who represents the Department of California on the National Executive Committee of the American Legion.

Wilkin, of Rialto, said the Resolution will be sent to all California Congressional Representatives and Senators by the Department of California.

Wilkin said that he and the California delegation will work for adoption of the anti-ACLU Resolution at the national convention of the 2.7-million member American Legion in Nashville, TN, August 27-Sept. 2.

The Resolution was submitted to the California State convention by San Gorgonio Pass Post 428 in Banning, CA. It was authored by Rees Lloyd, Past Commander of Post 428, and a longtime civil rights attorney who more than 20 years ago was an ACLU staff attorney who the ACLU honored for "pioneering efforts in the area of workers rights."

He said the recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal ruling that a cross at the Mojave Desert Veterans memorial must be destroyed, sparked the American legion Resolution.

"The ACLU has become the Taliban of liberal secular extremism in America.," Lloyd said, "It has gone too far, attacking even the cross at the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial - for which is has already sought and obtained $50,000 in attorney fee awards.

If the cross at that veterans memorial can be destroyed, then the ACLU can use the same legal theories against the 9,000 crosses and Stars of David at Normandy under which the heroes of D-Day rest, or to attack religious symbols at Riverside National Cemetery, or Arlington, and receive attorney fees ordered by judges and paid by taxpayers under the Civil Rights Act, which ACLU exploits.

"Veterans and other taxpayers are generally unaware that the ACLU makes hundreds of thousands of dollars in bringing its lawsuits to remove or destroy crosses or the Star of David, its only two targets so far in such cases, through attorney fee awards granted by judges under 42 USC Section 1988, the only legal authority for such attorney fee awards," Lloyd said.

"Therefore, on July 4, our Post 428 initiates its effort to enlist all veterans, all people of faith, all people with respect for America's religious history and heritage, and all taxpayers, in support of this.

California American Legion Resolution to end ACLU's enrichment of itself at taxpayer expense by attorney fee awards for destroying crosses or the Star of David," he said.

[dila813]

The American Legion sometimes impresses me with its cold intelligence.

[LifeTrek]

Another reason these are heroes!
DKK

[NutCrackerBoy]

The Resolution calls on Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act, 42 United States Code Section 1988, to prohibit judges from awarding attorney fees - at taxpayer expense - in ACLU cases brought to remove or destroy crosses or other religious symbols.

Sweet.