The Christian population in a small Texas town are standing up to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s demands that they remove a billboard at the entrance of their town which reads, “Jesus Welcomes You to Hawkins.”The Blaze is reporting on the controversy which started when atheist activists at The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the city in June demanding that the sign, which had been erected in 2011, be removed. In a letter dated June 1 to the Hawkins city council, the organization claimed that the sign “conveys a government preference for religion over nonreligion.”
Hawkins Mayor Will Rogers balked at the demands.
“The constitution is very clear about freedom of religion, not freedom from it,” Rogers told KLTV last month. ”I think we have to stand up for the foundation of our country. I mean, we’re built on God and Jesus. I’m sorry if people don’t like that, but it’s true.”
He went on to say that the sign doesn’t reference any particular church but merely invokes Christ, a figure who is “the most googled and most popular man in the world.”
“To me and many others, Jesus is not a religion, Jesus is in every religion across the globe,” Rogers said. “He’s in Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism. He represents love and kindness.”
The East Texas community has rallied around their mayor to protect what was a community effort to produce and erect the sign. It was built by high school students in shop class and the cost of erecting the sign was covered by local churches, residents and businesses. This past Sunday they hosted a revival event that featured singing and dancing as a show of support for the sign and for one another’s right to live according to their beliefs.
"The times have changed," said sign supporter Rhonda Lane, to KYTX-TV. "It's no longer a time to just sit around and be quiet and think everything's going to be alright. You must get involved and take a stand."
Her sentiments were echoed by Justin Lane, another supporter, who said the town has decided that “we need to stand up for the civil liberties of Christians in America to say we have as much freedom of speech as anyone else.”
At the moment, there is some question about whether or not the sign is actually standing on public ground. It could be standing on private ground owned by Rogers. If this is found to be the case, it would negate the FFRF’s demands.
If not, Hawkins officials fully expect the group to continue to bully them and admits they don’t have the money to fight them in court. Two days ago the city council voted to delay making any decision about the sign until tax records can be reviewed to determine if the sign is on public or private property.
In the meantime, the community is continuing to stand up for what it believes. And considering its bold commitment to Christ thus far, they’ll find a way to keep their sign right where it is.
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