City Sued For Encouraging Removal of Billboard Promoting Atheism

The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) filed suit in a California federal district court yesterday against the city of Rancho Cucamonga (CA). The complaint (full text) alleges that the city violated the Establishment Clause and free speech guaranties when its actions led a sign company to remove a billboard ad that had been paid for by FFRF. The city passed on to the sign company a number of complaints from the public about the billboard that read "Imagine No Religion." (See prior posting.) The complaint argues that city, by its actions, gave the appearance of endorsing religion and interfered with speech on the basis of its content. FFRF issued a release yesterday announcing the filing of the lawsuit, and yesterday's Contra Costa Times reports on the suit.