Posted on 12/21/2007 12:53:32 PM PST by SmithL
A proposed Kwanzaa celebration at the County Commission chambers caused an e-mail war among Shelby County employees earlier this week.
Now it has also prompted a lawsuit.
Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas filed a complaint in Chancery Court Friday to block the Kwanzaa celebration set to be hosted by County Commissioner Henri Brooks on Dec. 26.
“The reason I filed the lawsuit is because of the discrimination against Christians, Jews and other faiths by allowing the Kwanzaa celebration to happen and by not allowing us to have a ceremony,” Thomas said. “I’ve asked Mayor (A C) Wharton to stop it and he won’t. Now I’m asking a judge to stop it.”
In the lawsuit, Thomas said the event violates the First Amendment by allowing Brooks to host a Kwanzaa celebration and by denying members of other religions to do the same.
Religious symbols, such as the Nativity scene, are not allowed on county property.
In the suit, Thomas notes that Kwanzaa, a pan-African holiday, offers a spiritual alternative to Christmas and incorporates words like “spiritual,” “creator” and “faith.”
Thomas writes: “If Ms. Brooks is allowed to host the celebration this would cause irrefutable damage to other county employees who have been denied the same opportunity.”
He’s asked for an emergency hearing on Dec. 26 to block the event.
But Brooks, who has hosted the first night of Kwanzaa for the past 12 years, maintains that the celebration is not religious.
She declined to comment on the lawsuit or Thomas’ assertion that the event is a spiritual alternative to Christmas.
“Everybody comes up with their own version of everything and I don’t want to respond to the probate court’s version of anything,” she said.
Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural event honoring black and African heritage. Each night is dedicated to different principles, including unity, self-determination and faith. The local celebration is sponsored by Kwanzaa International Inc.
Brooks has hosted the first night of Kwanzaa at the Pink Palace in the past but this year decided to move the event to the county’s administration building, 160 N. Main.
The Mayor’s office issued a statement this morning that Wharton did not give Brooks permission to host the event in the county building. However, his office did authorize the use of government e-mail to distribute the invitation.
The statement also said County Attorney Brian Kuhn has advised Wharton that he has ultimate control over the use of county buildings and facilities.
While Wharton isn’t planning to cancel the event this year, the county attorney’s office will draft a policy stating that requests for future events will have to be submitted first to Wharton’s office for review.
Office
140 Adams Ave. Rm#124
Memphis, TN 38103
901-545-4040
chris.thomas@shelbycountytn.gov
Chris Thomas was first elected as Clerk for the Shelby County Probate Court in September 1994. The Probate Court Clerk is responsible for the administration of the court's two divisions.
Mr. Thomas has been actively involved in community affairs for most of his adult life. Prior to being elected Probate Court Clerk, he served as a member of The Memphis City School Board from 1991 through 1995. He is a past President of the West Tennessee State Court Clerks.
A graduate of Kingsbury High School and a 1987 graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in marketing, Mr. Thomas is married and the father of five. He and his family are active members of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Youth for Christ (now J.I.F.F.) and is an Advisory Committee member for Life Choices. He is on the Mid-South Fair's Senior Youth Talent Committee and was the 2005 Race Director for Memphis-Mid-South Race for the Cure. He is also Chairman of the Escort Marshals Committee for the Stanford St. Jude Golf classic and on the Marguerite Piazza St Jude Gala Board.
Mr. Thomas was re-elected Clerk in 1998, 2002 and 2006. Prior to his election as Clerk, Mr. Thomas worked for ATS Telephone & Data Systems
Oh, puleez. Everyone knows Kwanzaa was totally made up by a sicko and has nothing to do with religion.
Is that one of the tools Ron Karanga used to torture the girls in his basement?
Sorry dont get the inference.
So, by being non-religious it is protected from having to suffer being "protected" the way religions are -- which has evolved to mean banished from the public square by a long series of absurd legal precedence.
Its ironic, disturbing, and pathetic all at once.
this is the same doublespeak which some argue to allow a menorah but not a manger.
Thus it is protected from government repression by the twisted remnants of a constitutional clause which calls for the protection of religion from repression.
Me thinks "liberalism" hath wrought judicial absurdity on steroids.
Twas’ the night before Kwannza and all through the hood
Malina Karanga was up to no good
So what if he put some chicks toe in a vice?
Nobody said revolution was nice.
But Brooks, who has hosted the first night of Kwanzaa for the past 12 years, maintains that the celebration is not religious.
Then what IDIOT started it, and why are they trying to make it COMPETE with Christmas???????????????????????
Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural event honoring black and African heritage with the goal of separating blacks in America from Christianity and so-called "white culture". Each night is dedicated to different principles, including unity, self-determination and faith all of which have communism and black separatism as either their basis or goal.
Ron Karenga, who invented Kwanzaa in 1969(?) did time for kidnapping and torturing 2 women (in the basement of his home?). Some stories say he thought the two were government agents others say he was just getting his jollies. He used various items to torture the women including an electric soldering iron.
If they have a Kwanzaa celebration at the court house then they should have one for Festivus. Does anyone want to call and set that up? Sign me up for the airing of grievences...
You have to have an aluminum pole first, then the airing of grievances! ;o)
(Jerry Stiller voice): “I have a lot of problems with you people!”
"I'm waiting for my lawyer to provide me with a written statement which mainly consists of unbelievably arbitrary and hair-splitting definitions of all the relevant terms."
Don't insult the pagans.
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