Freedom From Religion Foundation sues city
The nation's largest organization of atheists and agnostics filed a complaint in federal court today accusing the city of violating the First Amendment. The complaint names the city and Redevelopment Director Linda Daniels for taking action that led to the removal of the "Imagine No Religion" billboard on Archibald and Foothill.
According to the complaint, "The defendants intended to interfere with and they did contribute to cause FFRF's billboard to be removed from public display because of opposition to the message communicated by FFRF's billboard. ... The bedrock principle underlying the scope of the free speech protection of the First Amendment is that government officials may not interfere with the expression of an idea simply because some persons allegedly consider the idea offensive or disagreeable to their views."
rancho_complaint.pdf
According to the complaint, "The defendants intended to interfere with and they did contribute to cause FFRF's billboard to be removed from public display because of opposition to the message communicated by FFRF's billboard. ... The bedrock principle underlying the scope of the free speech protection of the First Amendment is that government officials may not interfere with the expression of an idea simply because some persons allegedly consider the idea offensive or disagreeable to their views."
rancho_complaint.pdf
Idiots trying to rape the City of RC
The City employee did not remove the sign... the City did nothing wrong. RC City Hall is involved closely with the business community - they received complaints and of course they notified that business. Get over it you greedy BLOOD SUCKING basta___!
I may not agree with what anyone has to say, but I would defend your right to say it.
Sadly, the City of Rancho Cucamonga would not do the same.
The city has admitted to contacting the billboard company, supposedly to relay the volume of complaints. The city has also gone through the trouble of telling the letter-writing public that came to the defense of the organization that paid for the sign that it gave no direction in the removal of the sign, has no authority or approval privileges over billboard content, and basically has no role in billboard content control whatsoever; so why not remind those who were offended by a song lyric of all of this? Why not inform them that their complaints ought to go directly to the billboard company, or FFRF? Instead, the city was compelled to give those of us who were offended by this blatant violation of 1st amendment rights a civic lesson.
Whatever the real story may be, the reporter who is doing her job is being called a liar (albeit indirectly) and rather than fess up and just fire somebody, the city is now on its way to a potentially costly lawsuit. Way to go, Rancho.
The city was wrong by informing the billboard company of the complaints. If the city took the time to listen to and tally complaints that they have no power to influence resolutions for, why not tell callers to call the company or the people who put the sign up? That is common sense.
I'm offended by the nativity on Euclid in Ontario. When do those come down????????
Maybe now The City will make a better point of considering what their role is and not attempt to dictate what is and is not acceptable speech.
- J
how is imforming a company of complaints "dictating free speech"? I think some intolerant athiests just can't accept that their intolerance isn't accepted.
Why doesent someone just spray paint over the words they dont like, quit bitching and take some action for gods sake, you all yack yack yack about this sign but do something if it bothers you that much.
Rancho Cucamonga...
The city that mixed Church and State by taking down the atheist billboard. When the group asked for the billboard back, they were told it had been burned. Go figure.
The city that refused the 9-11 Freedom Flame Statue for political reasons. We lost the statue to Ontario where the council acts like adults.
The city that is against cap and trade then ironically banned smoking outside. So asthma for the masses is okay as long as the rich people don't have to smell the smoking public.
The city that denied the Metro Gold Line RAILway and instead built a useless TRAILway along the Historic Pacific Electric Railway. Anyone want to go to Rialto on a bicycle? How about Fontana? Anybody? Well a train ride from the Victoria Gardens to Pasadena is out of the question thanks to the NIMBYS. (Not In My Backyard)
The city that prosecuted a council member for being more popular than the establishment...and he's a Mexican too. Even talking about new and popular ideas like medical marijuana dispensaries and a new light rail system almost put this council member in jail.
When the city is out of line and we should all let them know. Especially when it involves the blatant violation of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Rancho's redevelopment agency should just stay quiet just like they do when an unpopular development comes to town. Shhhhhhh!