California Christian clubs complain that the crosses are “reminiscent of KKK cross-burnings” and offend “diverse communities” after city officials used prominent land to remove them. For this reason, they are fighting to have the cross displayed again.
Since 1971, the Albany Lions Club has maintained its majestic 28-foot cross, which is lit during the Christmas and Easter holidays, to send a “message of God’s love” and be a “comfort to the Christian community.” I’ve been doing it. press release state.
For more than 50 years, the cross stood on the Albany hill and also served as a gathering place for group prayers, weddings, baby dedications, and community memorial events.
The structure was built on private land owned by one of the club’s members, which is currently part of a dispute with the city of Albany, which took over the property last year.
Bay Area Christians fight city over ‘hostile and targeted’ cross removal: ‘act of discrimination’ https://t.co/5jt1ULv8KI
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 16, 2024
The cross was “uncontroversial” until 2016, when “an atheist group filed a complaint and convinced the Albany City Council to take up the cause of removing the cross,” according to the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), a civil rights group. .
In 2017, then-Mayor Peggy McQuaid publicly condemned Clubs that light the cross on September 11th:
The Albany City Council was disappointed to learn that the cross on Albany Hill was lit on Monday, September 11th by the Albany Lions Club, in a departure from historical practice. Half of the staff displayed flags on city buildings and parks that day. That horribly tragic day should be properly remembered by citizens, regardless of sect. I think many Albany residents stopped during the day and thought about themselves.
We would like to reiterate that neither the City Council nor the City of Albany supports the lighting of crosses or the continued presence of crosses on public land under any circumstances, whether religious or nationalistic. I think.
In January 2023, the Alameda County Superior Court asked the Lions Club to remove the cross, saying it did not need it for “organizational purposes.”
“According to the court, only churches or religious organizations appear to have the right to freely practice their religion,” PJI said in a press release, adding that the court found that “the Lions Club had a property right to display the cross. He did not acknowledge that,” he claimed. , a right recognized by the city when it acquired the land. ”
When the cross was officially removed in June 2023, the mayor celebrated.
“The city has really put its money where its mouth is, and our city now looks a little bit more accommodating in a way that I think is consistent with our values.” said then-Mayor Aaron Tiedemann. Said of east bay times.
Tiedemann, now a member of the Albany City Council, called the Lion Club cross a “privilege” for which he was stripped.
“For the small number of people locally who really want the cross to remain, it feels oppressive to lose it when they’ve had such a privilege for so long,” the former mayor said. . “It’s going to be an adjustment for people, but I think we’ll all get used to it and I think it will really benefit.”
The local publication went on to list the complaints Mr. Tiedman had raised about the cross’s removal.
Tiedemann, who grew up in Albany, said people have long complained about the cross for a variety of reasons. The cross symbolizes favoring one religion over another, offends some members of the city’s diverse community, and is reminiscent of the KKK’s cross burnings. A 1920s East Bay hillside eyesore.
Currently, the Lions Club, with the help of PJI, is filing a petition calling for the cross to be reinstated.
Members of the Christian Albany Lions Club brought a cross onto private property as a symbol of hope. Opposition from atheist groups prompted a removal effort by the Albany City Council. The Albany Lions Club supports the right to free speech. read more: https://t.co/aq0BbGUe6X pic.twitter.com/WWlRvZuuPH
— Pacific Justice Institute (@PacificJustice) April 10, 2024
“The city’s public statements and actions are hostile and target Christian crosses. [of] its religious message,” the petition reads. “The City Council lacked neutrality and attacked the Crosses and Lions for their free exercise of religion and freedom of speech.”
Brad Dacus, PJI founder and president, said in a statement from the group that the First Amendment protects individuals and private organizations from “such blatant state hostility toward those who seek to express symbols of faith and hope.” I will protect it.”
“We at PJI are committed to protecting this constitutionally protected speech.”
In an interview with Fox News, Dacus said Said The city of Albany specifically targets Christians.
“If there was a giant LGBT flag or something like that, this city would embrace it. No problem. It’s especially from a cross point of view, a religious point of view, a point of view. That’s their agenda. ” he said.
Civil rights activists say the case will be closed for good.
“This is a vicious, blatant, unconstitutional and discriminatory act by the city of Albany. And that’s what makes this case so shocking. You know, the city didn’t even try to hide it. Dacus said he was “very optimistic about the ultimate outcome of this case” and added that he intends to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
