Alabama City Removes Christian Flag From Police Station Following Atheist Complaint
An Alabama city has opted to remove a Christian flag from government property following a complaint from a Wisconsin-based atheist organization.
City of Glencoe recently took down a Christian flag which had been put on the grounds of a police department following a letter of complaint sent by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Tashia Blackerby, spokeswoman for City of Glencoe, told The Christian Post that the FFRF complaint was tied to previous issues the atheist group had with her city.
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"We received letters from the [FFRF]. First of all, it was on our manger scene. We had a manger scene at Christmas time," said Blackerby.
"And then it was back-to-back with the Christian flag that we had flying out here in front of the police department."
In February, FFRF staff attorney Andrew Seidel sent a letter of complaint to an attorney representing Glencoe regarding the flag.
"The display of this patently religious symbol on City property confers government endorsement of Christianity," wrote Seidel.
"A majority of federal courts have held displays of Latin crosses on public property to be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion."
Last week Glencoe Mayor Charles Gilchrist announced to local media that the flag was indeed removed from its place on government property.
In an interview with WBRC Fox 6, Mayor Gilchrist explained that the removal was performed to avoid a costly legal battle.
"That would just about ruin us … That's what they do, they pick on these smaller towns that can't defend ourselves," explained Gilchrist.
In a statement released Tuesday, FFFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor declared, "Reason will prevail. In this case, it was so patently obvious why a civil, secular government can't endorse Christianity in this particular way."
Regarding local reaction, Blackerby of City of Glencoe told CP that "the citizens are upset" over the removal of the flag.
