Posted on 08/22/2003 4:05:26 AM PDT by kattracks
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) About 40 supporters of an Alabama judge's Ten Commandments monument stood watch over it early Friday, hoping to keep anyone from removing it from the rotunda of the state judicial building.Chief Justice Roy Moore went home after spending much of Thursday vowing to do everything within his power to keep the monument in place. His eight colleagues on the state Supreme Court had ordered the monument taken out early in the day after a federal judge's midnight removal deadline passed.
Moore's supporters kept vigil Friday morning from their sleeping bags and bedrolls strewn across the rotunda floor.
The Rev. Herman Henderson of Believers' Tabernacle in Birmingham opted to nap on the concrete with his head resting on sheet music for the song, "I Shall Not Be Moved."
They remained quiet throughout the night, prompting police to retreat to their post across the street.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson set the midnight deadline after deciding that sitting in the public rotunda, the monument violated the Constitution's ban on government promotion of a religious doctrine. Thompson has said it could be moved to a private place still within the building.
The judge had threatened $5,000-a-day fines if Moore left the monument in the rotunda.
Building manager Graham George was instructed by the state's high court to "take all steps necessary to comply" with the removal order, justice Gorman Houston said. George declined to comment when asked when, how or where the monument would be moved.
Moore condemned his fellow judges for their orders. In their ruling, the Alabama justices stated they were "bound by solemn oath" to uphold the law.
"I will never deny the God upon whom our laws and country depend," Moore said Thursday in defending the 5,300-pound granite marker, which he installed two years ago and contends is representation of the moral foundation of American law.
"Not only did Judge Thompson put himself above the law, but above God as well," Moore told supporters.
The chief justice had appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency stay of the removal order, but the court rejected it Wednesday. Moore said Thursday he would file a formal appeal with the high court soon "to defend our constitutional right to acknowledge God."
"I cannot forsake my conscience," he said.
Richard Cohen, an attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center which sued along with the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State praised the eight justices.
"Their courageous actions reflect that Justice Moore is a disgrace to the bench and ought to resign or be removed from office," Cohen said.
Still, protesters outside the building said they were willing to stand in the heat and risk arrest for days or weeks to keep the monument inside. Twenty-one were arrested Wednesday night on trespassing charges.
Stephen Hopkins, pastor of Burnet Bible Church in Burnet, Texas, was one of those arrested. He said he was willing to be arrested even though he has 10 children.
"This is a great hypocrisy," Hopkins said. "This is an assault on God. They're saying we're going to cover up God."
Maybe one of the bash Judge Moore crowd could explain that.
Athena was a Greek goddess, the patron goddess of Athens (as well as goddess of wisdom). Her Roman counterpart was Minerva.
"I'm upset, but I'm not surprised. At least I am going to be able to say to my grandchildren that at least I tried to do something," Phillips said.
I at least appreciate this lady's honesty in admitting this whole protest is all about earning brownie points with God and doing something simply to feel good about herself.
After reading a little more and reconsidering this whole issue, I've changed my mind. What Roy Moore and his followers are doing is a far bigger embarrassment than I had previously thought.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.