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Posted on 10/10/2001 10:31:59 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl

ACLJ Offers to Defend Any School That Displays "God Bless America"

October 9, 2001

(Washington, DC) - The American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm, said today it is offering legal services to defend a California school district that has been told by the ACLU to remove a sign that includes the message "God Bless America." Click here to read the story. At the same time, the ACLJ announced today it is offering to defend any school district or student organization in America that desires to display "God Bless America" in schools.

"At a time when America desires to exhibit patriotism, the ACLU sees fit to undermine the constitution by attempting to exert a heavy hand of censorship," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. "The ACLU is out of step with the law and is reacting in a manner that is totally absurd and irresponsible. The message 'God Bless America' is constitutionally protected speech and the ACLU's legal analysis is both skewed and very troubling."

Sekulow said the ACLJ is sending a letter to the Rocklin Unified School District in California offering its legal services to defend the display of a sign that includes the message "God Bless America" posted in front of an elementary school. The message was placed on a marquee outside the Breen Elementary School following the September 11th terrorist attacks. The ACLU contends the words "God Bless America" reflect what the ACLU calls a "hurtful, divisive message" and has sent a letter to the school district alleging the message violates the U.S. and California constitutions and demanding that it be removed. The school district has said the sign will not be taken down, despite the ACLU's demand.

Sekulow said in addition to offering legal services to the Rocklin Unified School District, the ACLJ is offering legal services to defend the display of "God Bless America" to all school districts and student organizations nationwide. The ACLJ is a public interest law firm and does not charge any client for its legal services. A memo outlining why "God Bless America" is constitutionally protected speech is posted on the ACLJ web site at www.aclj.org.

Sekulow said the ACLU is simply wrong in its assessment that the message "God Bless America" violates the separation of church and state.

"There is no legal reason why a school district cannot display a sign that says 'God Bless America' if it so desires," said Sekulow. "The message 'God Bless America' is constitutionally protected speech and does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In fact, it is clear that the ACLU is attempting to censor a California school district by pressuring it to remove the sign. We will defend any school district or student organization that faces legal action by the ACLU for displaying the message 'God Bless America.'"

The American Center for Law and Justice is an international public interest law firm that focuses on constitutional issues involving pro-family, pro-life, and pro-liberty cases. The ACLJ is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA and its web site address is www.aclj.org.

Also at aclj:
The Posting of "God Bless America" Signs and Other Patriotic Slogans, for confused school board members - and others.

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