Atheists Sue Over Road Crosses For Troopers Killed In Line Of Duty [View All]

[The Straight Story]

Atheists Sue Over Road Crosses For Troopers Killed In Line Of Duty

POSTED: 10:07 am EST December 2, 2005
UPDATED: 10:14 am EST December 2, 2005

A group of atheists in Salt Lake City is taking on the State of Utah and the Utah Highway Patrol over the law enforcement agency's use of crosses on roadways to memorialize troopers killed in the line of duty.

The lawsuit has triggered a debate about whether a cross is an appropriate way of honoring troopers killed in the line of duty.

The American atheists filing the lawsuit said they respect the sacrifices the troopers have made, but they are offended by the used of what they call a religious symbol to honor them.

"Government should not endorse religion in general, nor should a government endorse a particular religion," attorney Brain Barnard said. "For a Jew to look at it, for a Muslim to look at it, for a Buddhist to look at it, they are not going to say that's a neutral symbol."

http://www.local6.com/news/5450952/detail.html