Suit Challenges Crosses On Public Property of Tennessee Town

The Freedom From Religion Foundation announced last week that it has filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Whiteville, Tennessee and its mayor, James Bellar, challenging under the Establishment Clause several crosses put up on public property. The complaint (full text) in Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Town of Whiteville, Tennessee, (WD TN, filed 12/9/2011), recounts the sequence of events.  Initially FFRF complained about a cross that had been displayed on the town's water tower.  The mayor responded by merely removing one arm of the cross. (See prior posting.) At about the same time, the city installed two crosses in front of city hall and decorated them with Christmas wreaths. Also a cross was installed on a public sidewalk in front of the mayor's insurance company. Yesterday, Whiteville's mayor issued a statement (full text) criticizing the lawsuit. The mayor comments in part: "What is even more puzzling about this latest lawsuit is that this foreign company and its Nashville law firm have filed it in the federal court in Jackson, Tennessee, which abuts a public sidewalk on which sits government-owned light posts that, as we speak, are decorated by colorful banners depicting Christmas trees."