Community resisting the attack:
"Standing in the shadow of the Slidell City Court, a swarm of protesters congregated Tuesday night for a rousing and at times revival-like demonstration, denouncing the American Civil Liberties Union and offering a show of unconditional support for the controversial portrait of Jesus that hangs on the wall just inside the courthouse.
Crowe seized on the opportunity to berate the ACLU, which has decried the portrait as a violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, saying it serves to advance a religious message using a public building.
The picture, which shows Jesus holding an open book of scripture, was identified by a local priest as a 16th century Russian Orthodox icon. The scripture, written in Russian, includes a biblical quotation about judging correctly and wisely. Beneath the portrait, a sign reads: "To know peace, obey these laws."
Attorneys with the ACLU believe that the display gives the impression that only those who believe in the law of Jesus Christ will receive justice in city court.
But protesters claimed that the portrait, which has been on display since the building opened in 1997, has never posed a problem and fairly represents the majority of residents in their largely Christian community.
Originally, the ACLU gave court officials one week to remove the display, threatening to sue if they did not comply by today. The conflict has since cooled, after attorneys with the ACLU agreed to a two-week extension before filing suit, allowing the court to seek further counsel from a team of independent legal experts.
The ACLU has also sponsored six federal lawsuits in 13 years against the Tangipahoa School Board, all involving the promotion of religion in schools.
Among other things, the board has been sued for allowing the distribution of Gideon bibles in the classroom and for sanctioning a teacher-led prayer at a recent high school graduation ceremony. Both actions were filed this spring in U.S. District Court in New Orleans and are awaiting trial.
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