The American Center for Law &
Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law, said they have agreed to
represent the City of Ocala, FL which faces a federal lawsuit by an atheist
organization for its support of a community prayer vigil in response to recent
shootings that left young children injured.
The American Humanist Association
(AHA) and four individual atheists have taken aim at the City of Ocala because
of the decision of Ocala’s Chief of Police to publicly support a community
prayer vigil aimed at developing unity and seeking justice in the wake of a
spree of shootings that injured several small children in Ocala.
“Rather than concocting a
constitutional crisis, these plaintiffs should be applauding the efforts of law
enforcement officers to engage with the citizenry to make the community safer
for all residents,” said David French, ACLJ Senior Counsel. “The position that government officials
working alongside members of the community to restore peace constitute an
affront to liberty if prayer makes its way into those efforts is simply not
supported by the law.”
The AHA filed its federal lawsuit at
the end of November, claiming the City and its officials violated the ‘establishment
clause’ of the 1st Amendment by supporting the community prayer vigil. The ACLJ rejects that assertion noting that
numerous court decisions — including by the U.S. Supreme Court — have upheld governmental
prayer practices as lawful and constitutional.
The ACLJ will ask the court to
dismiss the claims against the City, its Police Department, its Chief of
Police, and its Mayor, as the plaintiffs are not entitled to any of the relief
they seek, which includes an injunction against the City and monetary damages
from the Police Chief and Mayor.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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