September 7, 2010 6:46 PM
ACLU against Loudoun holiday display ban!
ACLU Urges Loudoun Officials to Preserve Public Forum at County Courthouse
July 19, 2010Usage rules adopted last year, but some are seeking elimination of forum.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
Loudoun County, Virginia - The ACLU of Virginia today faxed a letter to members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors requesting that they not eliminate a public forum for temporary displays on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg.
Two weeks ago, the Loudoun County Ground and Facility Committee asked the Board of Supervisors to remove the public forum at the courthouse, and the Board agreed to address the issue at its meeting tomorrow. Late last week, the Leesburg Town Council countered the Ground and Facility Committee by announcing its support for the public forum, which allows up to ten temporary displays at a time in a designated area of the courthouse.
The controversy over the courthouse forum began last fall when the Ground and Facility Committee voted to close the existing public forum, a move that would have prevented citizens from placing Christmas displays at the courthouse, as they have done for years. The Board of Supervisors then ordered the forum to remain open, and rules were put in place to regulate size and tenure of displays and to ensure that there would be no discrimination against displays based on their content.
According to news reports, the forum has been used regularly, but especially during the holiday season. In addition to the traditional Christmas tree and crèche, the lawn has held a Menorah, a Sikh display, display by an interfaith group, and one from the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
"While the controversy here has centered on religious displays, all kinds of expression are equally welcome in a public forum, including political and social messages," said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis.
"We should all be supportive of preserving traditional town center public forums," added Willis. "They are not only an important part of our cultural and political heritage, but also of our ongoing vitality as a nation. Unfortunately, you won't find many outside of cities and older towns like Leesburg."
A copy of Willis's letter to the Board of Supervisors can be found online at: acluva.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/07-19-10.pdf.
Love,
Posted in First Amendment, Loudoun County | Permalink
