Barrow County to remove 10 Commandments display
July 19 -- Today, United States District Court Judge William O’Kelley signed a Consent Order, which was proposed jointly by Barrow County and the ACLU of Georgia, that requires Barrow County to immediately remove the Ten Commandments display currently hanging in the Barrow County Courthouse.
“Now all citizens of Barrow County, regardless of their religious beliefs, can feel welcome in their own community. They will no longer feel like outsiders in their own courthouse,” said Maggie Garrett, Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Georgia.
In addition to having to remove the display, the County will be prohibited from posting similar displays in the future and must reimburse the ACLU $150,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses.
The ACLU filed the case on behalf of “John Doe,” who wants his identity protected because he fears reprisals. John Doe will remain anonymous under the Order.
“The fact that our plaintiff does not want to be identified for fear of reprisals demonstrates the divisions created in the community when the government takes sides on religious issues,”said Frank Derrickson, an ACLU cooperating attorney.
Garrett said: ”Ultimately this is a win for religious liberty. Now all people in Barrow County can freely make decisions about their own religious beliefs.”
For a copy of the Order go to:
http://www.acluga.org/briefs/10.commandments.barrow/order.pdf.
CONTACT: Maggie Garrett 404-523-6201 or
Frank Derrickson 404-373-5551