Suit Filed Over Library's Room Use Policy

The religious education and advocacy organization, Liberty Counsel, last month filed a federal lawsuit against the Seaside, Oregon public library after being denied use of a library meeting room for a planned program on educating children from a Biblical perspective.  The complaint (full text) in Liberty Counsel, Inc. v. Seaside Public Library Board of Trustees, (D OR, filed 2/9/2012), alleges that the library's room-use policy violates the 1st Amendment's free expression and establishment clauses, as well as the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Under the library's rules, rooms are available for non-profit groups to use, but use for religious services or proselytizing is not permitted. The Astoria (OR) Daily Astorian reports on the lawsuit.