THE CONTINUING WAR AGAINST CHRISTMAS

 

Among many other absurd and illegal things, city officials in Wauwatosa, WI, wanted to ban red and green colors this Christmas, along with any display that might even hint at the reason for the season. Believe it or not, the district had decreed that the color green could be permitted IF it was about the "aurora borealis," but since red and green are "traditional" Christmas colors they are not "inclusive" and thus were not permitted. Oh my! Read on to learn more about our latest case fighting to preserve religious freedom, free expression, and the reason for the CHRISTmas season. – Mat Please help support our important legal work. Every donation made today will be DOUBLED IN IMPACT by a special Challenge Grant. Please give generously today.

Friend,

The Wauwatosa, WI, City Administrator Jim Archambo and Deputy City Administrator Melissa Cantarero Weiss sent an email banning city employees "from using religious decorations" that are "solely associated with Christmas."

Using the words "inclusive" and "equitable" a combined nine times in their email, the two city officials made clear that any hint of anything traditionally related to Christmas must be excluded. 

The pair even went so far as to ban red and green colors when decorating public spaces in city buildings.

According to Archambo and Weiss, December holiday decorations could include green only if it is in reference to the aurora borealis, but not for Christmas. 

I’m not kidding! Their directive actually mentioned the aurora borealis. Funny thing is the aurora borealis sometimes includes both red and green. BUT apparently not this year in Wauwatosa.

In woke Wauwatosa, city employees could draw holiday inspiration from nature, but not "nature’s God" (Declaration of Independence).

Keep CHRIST in Christmas! Support our legal fund today!

The memo states, in part: "In our ongoing efforts to foster a more equitable and inclusive community...we kindly ask that departments refrain from using religious decorations or [sic] solely associated with Christmas (such as red and green colors) when decorating public spaces within city buildings. Instead, we encourage you to opt for more neutral and inclusive decorations..."

Archambo and Weiss then provided a list of acceptable decorations:

1. "Winter wonderland – snowflakes, snow people [sic], and other non-religious symbols associated with winter."

2. "Lights and greenery – festive lighting and greenery can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere without specific religious connotations."

3. "Northern lights – draw inspiration from the aurora borealis and incorporate colors like blue, green, and purple."

Such erroneous thinking falls prey to Satan's perpetual trick of convincing humans to worship the created thing instead of the Creator.

Sadly, this is not the first time "woke" Wauwatosa city officials have tried to censor and silence their Christian constituents.

In 1957, 9-year-old Suzanne Vallier won a contest held among area school children to design the city's seal. 

Little Suzanne’s entry won the contest because it so well commemorated Wauwatosa’s rich history.

The girl's winning entry was a seal divided into four quadrants. The respective quadrants featured an arrowhead, representing the Native Americans who were the original inhabitants of the land; a mill representing the founding business of the city; a house, representing their "city of homes;" and a cross, representing Wauwatosa as a "city of churches."

Suzanne's drawing became the official city seal, lasting for over 30 years. 

But on a snowy December night in 1992, just three days before Christmas, the Wauwatosa City Council, under threat of lawsuit by an atheist group, voted to remove the cross from the city's seal.

Keep CHRIST in Christmas!

I flew to Wauwatosa that snowy evening and joined more than 500 residents that packed the council meeting. 

Singing "God Bless America" under the falling snow, the residents peacefully protested the removal of the cross. 

Wauwatosa's faithful residents refused to give up the fight.

Using the power of a city referendum, the residents outsmarted their city council and the out-of-town atheists, voting to have the cross replaced with America’s national motto, "In God we trust," a voter initiative that I wrote.

But no referendum will need to be held this Christmas. 

The Lord has already prepared the way in this case via Liberty Counsel's 9-0 Supreme Court win in Shurtleff v. City of Boston, and our brief in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which ended the so-called "Lemon Test" that had been used to erase Christianity and religious symbols from the public square for 51 years.

In Shurtleff, one could fly any flag on the city square, as long as it wasn't viewed by the applicant to be a "Christian" flag.

In Kennedy, one could take a knee and think secular thoughts on the field after the game, but not offer silent prayer.

As a result of our work, the High Court found that censoring Christian viewpoints violates the First Amendment and overruled Lemon v. Kurtzman.

The City of Wauwatosa apparently believes the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings don't apply to their little piece of America. They better wake up fast.

On November 14, Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to Wauwatosa city officials regarding its unconstitutional ban on Christmas holiday symbols, decorations, and expressions.

As a result, Archambo, Weiss, and the entire Wauwatosa City Council saw the error of their ways and rescinded their ridiculous ban on Christmas.
 

Wauwatosa teachers are now free to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas.

But other school districts and municipalities are also trying to remove “the reason for the season.” 

Liberty Counsel will not allow the antireligious “grinches” to steal Christmas or censor our viewpoint. 

We will educate, and, if necessary, litigate. 

Our huge wins at the Supreme Court have set new precedent and will echo through history for generations.

We are only able to continue fighting for religious freedom with your support. 

Your generous donation will be DOUBLED IN IMPACT by a special Challenge Grant. Please, give generously today.

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel
 

P.S. Make a recurring monthly donation and let the Challenge Grant DOUBLE THE IMPACT OF YOUR REGULAR GIFT!

Sources:

"CITY TAKES CROSS off SEAL after THREATS by ATHEISTS." 1992. Chicago Tribune. December 22, 1992. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-12-22-9204260410-story.html.

Review of Wauwatosa Issues Absurd and Unlawful Email to Censor Christmas. 2023. Liberty Counsel. November 13, 2023. https://lc.org/newsroom/details/111323-wauwatosa-issues-absurd-and-unlawful-email-to-censor-christmas.

Liberty Counsel is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
 

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