ACLU pressure forces city to remove cross from city logo (Redlands, CA)

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 4/29/04 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

REDLANDS, Calif. (AP) - Under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, the city is voluntary removing the cross on its logo rather than get tangled in a court battle that's doomed to fail.

For nearly 40 years, a shimmering cross hovering over a church steeple has been emblazoned on the city seal. By Friday, it will disappear from logos on city vehicles, City Hall doors and police badges.

The ACLU demanded its removal, contending the cross is a Christian symbol and violates the Constitution's ban on government endorsement of religion.

"We cannot afford to engage in a fight that we will lose," Mayor Susan Peppler told about 150 protesters - most from Arrowhead Christian Academy - who showed up downtown on Wednesday waving crucifixes at passing cars and hoisting signs reading "Don't Toss the Cross" and "Honk for the Cross."

"We were founded on things that happened because of this cross. Our nation was founded on Christianity," Mark Johnson, 18, of Arrowhead Christian Academy said.

ACLU attorney Ben Wizner said case law supports removal of religious symbols from public property. The cross removal "does not in any way interfere with people's ability to worship at home or at church or have any symbol that they want," he said.

In a 1998 ACLU case, a federal judge ruled that a Stow, Ohio, city seal that included a cross was unconstitutional. Three years ago, the ACLU prevailed in a lawsuit alleging a 6-foot cross within the Mojave National Preserve constituted government endorsement of religion.

The cross on the city seal first surfaced in 1986, but the matter lagged until the ACLU raised it again in the late 1990s and again in March.

For weeks, city employees have used blue tape to obscure the cross on the logos affixed to city buildings. The city flag bearing the seal was also removed.

The city plans to hire jewelers to modify the badges worn by police and firefighters, turning the cross into a glimmering star.

The new seal replacing the offending cross features a tall tree next to a home. It will be unveiled at a council meeting Tuesday.

So far, it's cost the city up to $8,000 to make the changes.

[vandykelastone]

what is going on here? Why does everyone in America knuckle under to the Ambulance Chasing Lawyers'Union? Somehow this has got to stop. They just "pressure" people. Ain't that kind of like "leaning on" people? What about the courts helping out here? I don't know. HELP!

[NormsRevenge]

"Resistance is futile", says Mayor Peppler..

You can send an email at the bottom of the page

[xusafflyer]

Redlands has some money. Hopefully they'll just tell the ACLU to pound sand.

[xusafflyer]

Guess I should have the read the entire thing. Oh well...they caved.

[RebelBanker]

I wonder when they will start going after the Bottony Crosses all over Maryland. Among many other things, the official "topper" for a flagpole bearing the Maryland flag is a cross. Actually, that particular symbol is a double-whammy since the Bottony Cross was used as a symbol of support for the Confederacy during the War Between the States.

[TonyWojo]

Why is the ACLU not in Hamtramck, Michigan. The Muslims in that City have a call to prayer over loud speakers.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - SECULARIZATION OF AMERICA ALERT

[onedoug]

The ACLU snaps the whip. "Yes, massa."

[NormsRevenge]

Hamtramck .. lol ... The argument was that speakers are effectively no different than church bells and should thus be allowed for use in the community.

Is that Conyers district, by chance?

[Michael Barnes]

Bottony Crosses

What are they?

[aimhigh]

Pre**y soon, we'll have *o modify our language *o elimina*e all crosses.

Again the liberals become what they hate. Those who pretend to support freedom are now the persecutors.

[antaresequity]

I hope the residents take matters into their own hands and just go paint crosses back on the signs

Screw the ACLU

[RebelBanker]

A cross with three "buttons" on the end of each arm.

[Sunshine Sister]

I think it would only be fair if the ACLU paid for the changes.

I don't know how those ACLU lawyers live with themselves. I must be awful to be Godless.

[Pyro7480]

I hope the residents take matters into their own hands and just go paint crosses back on the signs.

I saw a Filipino Catholic priest from the island of Basilan (the home base of the Abu Sayyaf) speak on Tuesday night. He told a story about how he got local carpenters to make scores of crosses, and had crosses painted everywhere after the local Muslims threatened a village with violence if it didn't take down its crosses. The locals in CA should do something similar to stand up to these censors.

[Michael Barnes]

Ah, thanks....Now, can anyone tell me what the three crosses all over West Virginia on mountain tops is all about?

[Always Right]

The mayor has the spine of a Frenchman.....Of course, in reality the mayor probably helped the ACLU file the lawsuit.

[RebelBanker]

I would imagine that they represent the same thing groups of three crosses on hilltops represent everywhere - Calvary.

[goldstategop]

The ACLU is only opposed to Christianity in the public square.