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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CULTURE]
2 clusters · 6 sources · 7 days · First seen · Last updated
Legal dispute over religious displays in Los Angeles
Overview
A legal dispute has emerged in Los Angeles regarding the presence of historic religious displays at El Pueblo, specifically a 10-foot hand-carved wooden cross erected in 1929 and a traditional Christmas nativity scene in the Old Plaza.
Resident Jack Gerritsen, an atheist, filed a lawsuit alleging that these displays on public land violate the First Amendment’s establishment clause, claiming they constitute a government endorsement of religion. Gerritsen is seeking $5 million in damages.
Following a federal judge’s rejection of a request to remove the displays—noting the cross meets a “presumption of constitutionality” due to its long history—the Olvera Street Merchants Association has intervened. The merchants have requested to join the City of Los Angeles as a defendant in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to protect the symbols, which they argue are vital to the area’s Mexican-American heritage and economic activity.
Entities
City of Los Angeles · Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals · Jack Gerritsen · Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation · Becket
Timeline
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11 days ago
[POLITICS] 3 sourcesLos Angeles merchants fight to preserve historic Olvera Street crossLos Angeles merchants are fighting to preserve a historic cross and Nativity display on Olvera Street following a First Amendment lawsuit filed by an atheist resident.
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17 days ago
[CULTURE] 3 sourcesLos Angeles merchants fight to preserve historic El Pueblo religious displaysLos Angeles merchants are intervening in a federal appeal to protect a century-old cross and nativity display at El Pueblo against a lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations.
Sources
cal-catholic.com · ewtn.co.uk · mynewsla.com · offthepress.com · quantanoticia.com.br · theblaze.com