A Christian flag and an American flag stand side by side in Paige, Texas.
Over 500 Christians were present at the "United We Stand" rally on Saturday, July 18 in the city of Glencoe, AL after the removal of a Christian flag that had been flying in front of the Glencoe Police Department since the late 1990's. The rally was held in reaction to a letter of complaint received in February from Andrew Seidel of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based atheist organization.
In his letter, Seidel argued that flying a Christian flag in front of the police department is unconstitutional under the 14th amendment. He wrote, "It is unconstitutional for a government entity to fly a flag with a patently religious symbol and meaning on its grounds.
"The display of this patently religious symbol on city property confers government endorsement of Christianity."
Glencoe Mayor Charles Gilchrist says that the city decided to remove the flag from in front of the police department to avoid the financial burden that a potential litigation would place on the city.
"That would just about ruin us"¦ That's what they do, they pick on these smaller towns that can't defend ourselves," Mayor Gilchrist said to WBRC Fox 6.
Samuel Lowe, founder and Etowah County director of First Responders for Christ, who helped organize the rally said, "I do not believe the flag will be returned to the property, but I do believe a suitable alternative will be found that will glorify the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and will be above the reproach of the Freedom From Religion Foundation," according to Christian Post.
Since the removal of the flag, opposed citizens have purchased their own Christian flags and are flying them in front of their homes and businesses.
