LJWorld.com / ACLU mission

Archive for Tuesday, December 16, 2003

December 16, 2003

To the editor:

The Baldwin schools have suffered unwelcome and (perhaps) unfair publicity because of administrative decisions. However, the Board of Education appears to be addressing issues of alleged sectarian activity in its schools.

Prior to litigation, the American Civil Liberties Union asks public bodies to investigate and rectify allegations. If subsequent board actions resolve citizen concerns, the Douglas County ACLU considers the matter closed. If not, we will represent citizens who feel their rights have been compromised.

ACLU does not solicit allegations; rather, ordinary citizens bring them to our attention.

Unfortunately, this joyous season emboldens some to use the state, most often through our public schools, to promote their religious beliefs over those of others. For over 200 years, U.S. Supreme Court decisions have saved our nation from sectarian conflict by preventing state sponsorship of any preferred religion.

In 1947, Justice Hugo Black, writing for the majority in Everson v. Board of Education, said, "In the words of Jefferson, the (Establishment) Clause ... was intended to erect a ‘wall of separation' between church and State." Subsequent courts have been consistent in maintaining this separation. ACLU is staunchly conservative in preserving these wise church-state rulings.

ACLU is a grassroots organization of 400,000 citizens with a deep commitment to the Bill of Rights. Our client is always the Bill of Rights and our usual plaintiffs are ordinary citizens. The ACLU gives them their day in court and the resulting decisions benefit us all.

Steve Lopes,

secretary/treasurer,

Douglas County ACLU,

Lawrence