I’ll Tell You What…

I just wanted to post some of the results of the hard work of the ACLJ. The ACLJ is an organization that fights to protect the US Constitution, protect religious liberties, protect life and protect the religious rights of Americans.

* School children can continue to say “one nation under God” when they quote the Pledge of Allegiance - thanks to a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States (on June 14, Flag Day!). The Justices DISMISSED the case, doing away with a lower court’s decision that declared the phrase “under God” unconstitutional. With the support of members all around the country, the ACLJ filed a major brief in the case on behalf of 68 members of Congress and more than 260,300 Americans (including some 2,600 school-age children, many of whom attend public schools and wanted to continue reciting the Pledge intact).

By dismissing this case and eradicating the appeals court decision, the Supreme Court of the United States REMOVED A DARK CLOUD that had been hanging over one of the nation’s most important and cherished traditions: acknowledging via the Pledge of Allegiance that our freedoms in this country come from God, not government. Thank you again for your prayers and support in this important legal battle!

* The U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City dismissed a lawsuit challenging the public display of a monument of the Ten Commandments - a monument that had been on display in Pleasant Grove, Utah, since the early 1970s. The court agreed with the ACLJ about the historical significance of this monument - and that the law is clear concerning the display of the Ten Commandments: in short, that such a monument is CONSTITUTIONAL. The ACLJ continues to be involved in more than a dozen cases nationwide - defending the constitutional display of monuments of the Ten Commandments in Nebraska, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

* We’ve settled the case of a county health department employee from Illinois who filed a FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT claiming she was denied a promotion because she expressed reluctance to participate in any way in abortion counseling of health department clients. We argued that this violated her rights of free speech and freedom of religion, as well as her right to be free from religious discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act. In the settlement agreement, the county agreed to pay the settlement of the claims (without admitting liability in the case). Both parties agreed that the lawsuit would be DISMISSED.

* With your help, the ACLJ succeeded in protecting the constitutional rights of students in a Michigan case, where two high school graduation speakers were asked to talk about friendship at commencement exercises. In their speech, they wanted to mention that the best example of friendship in their lives comes from Jesus Christ. The speakers told the ACLJ a school official said that if they mentioned the name of Jesus during the speech, they would be REMOVED from the stage. The speakers contacted the ACLJ just two days before graduation, and we immediately sent the principal a legal memorandum outlining the law. The speakers were permitted to deliver their speech as planned - including the mention of the name of Jesus - WITHOUT CENSORSHIP.

* In a second Michigan case, Marylou Statson of Davison wanted to place a marker with the message “John 3:16” as part of a school district’s playground fundraising project, in which patrons could - in exchange for a donation - place a paving stone inscribed with the message of their choice in the playground. Statson contacted the ACLJ when she was told that her message was unacceptable and that the marker would not be placed in the playground. The ACLJ sent a demand letter to the superintendent of schools outlining the legal issues and the fact that denying Statson the opportunity to use that message violated her First Amendment FREE SPEECH RIGHTS. The ACLJ letter said that if the school district did not accept the inscription, a lawsuit would be filed. The school district responded by reporting that the marker with the inscription “John 3:16” would indeed be permitted.

* The Justices handed down a disappointing decision that blocked the implementation of the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), a measure that would have protected America’s youth from the most sordid material on the World Wide Web. The high court declared COPA unconstitutional and sent the case back to a lower court for trial. In its major brief, the ACLJ represented itself and 13 members of Congress and urged the high court to reverse the lower court’s decision. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY for this critical issue as it goes back to a lower court and we continue our efforts.

* In one of three terrorism cases, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the U.S. government has the power to hold American citizens and foreign nationals without charges or trials - BUT that detainees can challenge their treatment in U.S. courts. This troubling ruling limits the President’s role as commander-in-chief, gives suspected terrorists access to U.S. courts, and allows American civilian courts to become involved in military decisions. The ACLU had filed major briefs in all three terrorism cases.

THANK YOU for the important role you are playing in the ongoing work of the ACLJ! Victories like these can only happen as members like you continue to pray faithfully and give generously. You make the difference!

So we appreciate you … and we look forward to dramatically increased effectiveness in cases across the nation as friends like you contribute to our FREEDOM FIGHT 2004 Matching Challenge.

Your contribution during this campaign can be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $300,000, its impact doubled through the Matching Challenge fund. Please give generously today!

American Center for Law and Justice
P.O. Box 64429
Virginia Beach, VA 23467
Phone: (757) 226-2489
Fax: (757) 226-2836
www.aclj.org

The American Center for Law and Justice is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization engaged in education and support of litigation involving human and civil rights of citizens and other matters as set forth in the statement of exempt purpose. Donations are tax-deductible.

As always, let us know of threats to freedom in your area by calling (757) 226-2489. And tune in to our daily radio program, “Jay Sekulow Live!”