Can State Protect Children From Religious Approaches At County Fair?

Liberty Counsel last week pointed to a interesting change in policy that it convinced the Canyon County (Idaho) Fair & Festival Board to make. The Board had imposed restrictions on two religious organizations renting booths at the upcoming county fair. Contracts with the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and with the Gideons had originally restricted the groups from offering their materials to children unless the child's parent was also present. After a demand letter from Liberty Counsel arguing that these restrictions violated the religious groups' freedom of speech, the Board relented and provided new contracts without the restrictions. So now, as in past years, CEF will offer face painting and literature with a Christian message to children at the fair, to be held in July.