Freedom From Religion Foundation, Shelton Settle Atheist Sign Lawsuit

SHELTON, CT — The Freedom From Religion Foundation and the City of Shelton recently settled a lawsuit that will allow private groups from erecting unattended displays in Huntington Green Park, but prohibit them from Constitution Park.

"We are pleased the City of Shelton will no longer discriminate against atheists and other nonbelievers in its public forums, and that it has closed the forum at Constitution Park," said FFRF Co-President Dan Barker in a statement. "We question that it's truly a public forum if dissenting points of view are vandalized. We'll be back in December, but will be asking for additional protection of our display."

The case arose after local resident Jerry Bloom sued after he was initially denied the chance to display an atheist sign at Constitution Park, though the local American Legion had placed a religious holiday display there. He was eventually allowed to place his sign in Huntington Green Park, though it was later vandalized.

According to Barker, the FFRF and Bloom will erect a winter solstice display in Huntington Green "as long as religious displays are put up."

To read the joint settlement agreement, click here. According to the FFRF, the settlement indicates that Shelton agrees "not to allow private unattended displays in Constitution Park. The city agreed that anywhere it 'allows private parties to erect unattended displays . . . it will allow plaintiffs to erect a display in that park, without regard to the content or viewpoint . . . so long as plaintiffs' display complies with any neutral, written city policies regarding such displays.'"

It also formally stipulates that Huntington Green, an open space in the city, is a "public forum for private unattended displays."

The FFRF was represented by attorney Laurence J. Cohen, of Springfield, MA, with FFRF Attorneys Elizabeth Cavell and Ryan Jayne, who is FFRF's Eric Stone Legal Fellow, serving as co-counsel.

Photo credit: Freedom from Religion Foundation via Facebook