RALEIGH, N.C. - An attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund has formally offered to defend the City of Raleigh against a possible legal attack by the ACLU.
"It's ridiculous that city officials would even have to consider whether or not it's okay to say 'Merry Christmas' on public property," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson. "Fortunately, the City Council has shown courage in standing up to the ACLU's campaign of fear, intimidation, and disinformation, and ADF is happy to provide legal support to them should the ACLU or groups like it decide to litigate this case."
The Raleigh City Council voted on December 6 to allow a private citizens' group, Called2Action, to erect a Christmas and seasonal display in Moore Square. Responding to reports that the ACLU has threatened legal action against the city, ADF sent a letter to offer the city free legal representation should the ACLU file suit against the display. A copy of the letter can be read at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/RaleighLetter.pdf.
"A private organization bringing a multicultural seasonal display that includes the words 'Merry Christmas' along with a nativity scene is completely constitutional," said Johnson. "In the ACLU's America, it is always winter and never Christmas."
As part of ADF's Christmas Project, ADF-allied attorneys have contacted more than 10,300 school districts nationwide so far this year to inform them of the truth regarding religious expression at Christmastime. For more information on the project, visit
www.saychristmas.org.
ADF is a legal alliance defending America's first liberty--religious freedom--through strategy, training, funding, and litigation. ADF President Alan Sears is co-author with Craig Osten of the new book The ACLU vs. America (
www.acluvsamerica.com).
www.telladf.org www.saychristmas.org
Related information
ADF Media Clip: ADF Senior Attorney Mike Johnson says that ADF will stand with Raleigh should the city be threatened with a lawsuit. (22 seconds)