Posted on 11/11/2008 2:19:25 AM PST by Man50D
The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, La., warning that the small town's promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment.
The Thibodeauxville Festival, which draws nearly 12,000 people to the town whose population barely exceeds 14,000, has featured fun, food, street dancing and bands from a variety of genres for the past 16 years.
But when the ACLU spied the city's seal on a flier that also promoted the Christian bands performing at the festival, it took action.
Marjorie Esman, executive director of ACLU Louisiana told WWL-TV, New Orleans, "We wrote to a letter to the mayor, copied the president of the chamber, asking them for the future to not include religious expression in the event." Kathy Benoit, president of Thibodeaux Chamber of Commerce, told the station she was surprised by the letter.
"The city's logo appears on the some of marketing materials because of the cooperation we get," said Benoit. "They allow us to use these streets, and it's just a partnership, but they do not give us any money at all."
Esman, however, contends differently.
"We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber," Esman said. "We're not sure what those funds are used for. The fact is, the city has its official logo on these fliers."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
Understand what you are saying....except there is no “public dime”, that we know of. No mention of denying anyone anything...just a statement that Chirstian bands would be there.
“Understand what you are saying....except there is no public dime, that we know of. No mention of denying anyone anything...just a statement that Chirstian bands would be there.”
Good point. And it doesn’t sound like they’re favoring one group at the exclusion of others. That’s very important.
In my view it is time for the Right to cut the crap and start responding to these idiotic, evil arguments like we actully are possessed of some remnant of our God-given brains and balls.
When wil we rise up and slap these vermin down?
.....could be the first acts of a new dawn of freedom.
There's a city seal on the flyer, right above the listing of Corporate Sponsors. However, the flyer clearly states that the festival is sponsored by the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, NOT the City of Thibodaux.
The city logo is there denoting an event being held in the city.
The aclu can go pound sand.
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