Posted on 08/27/2003 8:59:09 AM PDT by NWO Slave
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A chorus of demonstrators joined an irate man in screaming "Put it back!" Wednesday morning after a monument of the Ten Commandments was wheeled away from the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building.
"Get your hands off our God, God haters!" yelled the wildly gesturing, red-faced man who initiated the chanting.
Workers used a dolly to move the 5,280-pound granite marker from the rotunda to another, undisclosed place in the courthouse building.
Meanwhile, a Wednesday afternoon hearing to consider a lawsuit to keep the monument in the rotunda was canceled.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Mobile on behalf of a Christian radio talk show host and a pastor, says forced removal of the monument would violate the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion.
Christian Defense Coalition Director Patrick Mahoney told the crowd of demonstrators that he wasn't told where the monument had been taken.
Because of its size and weight, the marker was presumably moved to another location on the ground floor of the building.
Mahoney said the monument would not be covered, and that he would be allowed inside to see it once it was moved. Mahoney said he was informed of the plans by building manager Graham George.
Mahoney didn't know whether the monument's new location would be accessible to the public.
The federal court had said the monument could be in a private place in the building but not in the highly visible spot in the rotunda directly across from the building's entrance.
Protest organizers asked the crowd outside not to rush the building or do anything else except pray. Some people seemed to be listening, with dozens kneeling, bowing or lying face-down in prayer in front of the judicial building and on the steps before and after the monument's removal.
The marker was wheeled away in a matter of minutes.
A federal judge in Montgomery ruled last year that the monument, which Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore (search) installed two years ago, violates the Constitution's ban on government promotion of religion and ordered its removal by Aug. 20. The U.S. Supreme Court last week declined to hear Moore's appeal.
But Moore refused to comply. Eight associate justices voted Aug. 21 to remove the monument, and Moore was suspended the next day.
Attorney General Bill Pryor, defending the associate justices, filed a motion Tuesday afternoon to dismiss the latest lawsuit, saying the Mobile court lacks jurisdiction and the complaint lacks merit.
About 150 monument supporters marched on Pryor's office Tuesday, demanding he resign for supporting the associate justices' decision. Seven representatives were allowed inside to meet with Pryor's chief deputy for about 20 minutes. The rest remained outside, chanting, "Resign now! Resign now!"
Gatherings of pro-monument demonstrators outside the judicial building have grown each day in the past week to at times number in the hundreds.
People seeking removal of the monument from its public site had said they were grateful that it was finally being moved, a week after the deadline set by a federal judge.
"This is a tremendous victory for the rule of law and respect for religious diversity," the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said before the monument was rolled out of the rotunda. "Perhaps Roy Moore will soon leave the bench and move into the pulpit, which he seems better suited for."
Lynne's organization was among groups suing to remove Moore's monument, which he installed without telling the other eight Supreme Court justices.
Demonstrators promised to keep up their protests of the removal.
"If it takes 75 years to reclaim this land for righteousness, God find us and our children and our children's children ready," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the national clergy council.
Affirmative Action Judge Opposing Judge Roy Moore
...and you need to read the First Amendment.
The quote's probably a complete lie.
But don't let that dilute your bias.
YET!
Thanks for a shot of commonsense, Trebb. Unfortunately, the conservo-atheists hate Christians far more than they do 'left-wingers.'
Yep. What's he got to do, with your legal system?
PS It's a great day for Libertarians, eh?
You're comparing the Founders to the Taliban, now?
...Political Correctness, the cult of international socialism.
Don't you read Free Republic?
Actually, no, it is NOT the rule of law. The Constitution is very specific that the Congress SHALL MAKE NO LAW regarding the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof! The court has usurped the authority of the Constitution and is creating law which it has NO authority to do.
"Why is it that we Americans have to kow-tow to people who come from foreign countries who tell US they are bothered by OUR religious beliefs and symbols and that WE have to refrain or remove our symbols while THEY get to practice their religion in front of OUR face?"
Well, I'm sure if you went to Iran or Saudi Arabia or one of those meccas of religious "tolerance" that the nice Muslims whould be very accommodating if you told them their religious symbols offended you.< /sarcasm >
Well said. The guy's posts are instantly forgettable, so he cooks up an offensive tagline.
How pitiful is that?
Trust you to be in here gloating, Catty.
Gosh.
Thanks for allowing us that, for a little longer.
Thanks, not that I have anything to do with it, nor do I care to.
You're defined by your anti-Christian theology, mate, and you enjoy upsetting and offending those of faith here, solely for your own sick amusement. Have you taken a shot at FR's founder, yet?
...well, it is now. But Christianity was the Founder's raison d'etre, and this website's about the restoration of their Constitutional ideals.
So....why are you here?
Not of all them. Some would argue not even a majority of them.
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