PEOPLE SEEK TO OVERTURN COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND ACLU DECISION TO SECULARIZE THE LA COUNTY SEAL

After the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) threatened to sue the County for violating the Establishment Clause of the Constitution on the basis that the cross purportedly represented an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, the Board of Supervisors in a 3-2 decision voted to delete the cross from the Los Angeles County Seal.

Rather than let the residents of the County vote on the proposed change, the Board reaffirmed its position in a 3-2 decision even though several public interest law firms offered to defend the County on a pro bono basis. Moreover, the U. S. Supreme Court has not ruled that city seals or displays must be devoid of any religious expression. Indeed, the Court has ruled that a crèche may be displayed on public property so long as it is part of a larger secular display.

The symbols on the Seal were designed merely to depict certain historical facts about the County. For instance, the Roman goddess Pomona portrays our agricultural abundance, the derricks our early oil fields and the cross the contribution of the Missions in the settlement of Los Angeles.

Recently, the new Seal was unveiled. It no longer contains the goddess Pomona, the oil derricks or the cross. The Board of Supervisors has succeeded in wiping away important cultural and historical symbols of our shared heritage simply because of the ACLU's antipathy towards religion in general and Christianity in particular.

Currently, a petition is being circulated that would force the Board of Supervisors to enact an ordinance that would return the seal to its original state. If you are interested in signing the petition or circulating one, you should visit www.ourfirstamendment.org.

It will be necessary to gather 341,212 signatures from registered voters in Los Angeles County within 180 days from September 2, 2004.