Las Cruces, New Mexico sued for sculpture of (gasp) crosses!

[Lincoln]

Las Cruces School Sued Over Art Sculpture On Campus Contains Three Crosses



LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Two men are suing the Las Cruces Public School District over a sculpture at a sports complex that includes three crosses.

Jesse Chavez and Paul Weinbaum are founding members of the southern New Mexico chapter of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Their federal lawsuit alleges the artwork violates a constitutional ban on government endorsement of religion.

The $21,000 steel sculpture is the work of Las Cruces artist Ruth Bird.

It has an eight-foot-wide metal circle enclosing three crosses that stand for unity, strength and excellence.

The sculpture was funded by New Mexico's One Percent for Art Program, and is on display outside the Las Cruces Public Schools Sports Activities Complex.






Maybe the city should change it's name as well?

[Odin]

WTF? Those don't even look like a Christian Cricifix, I am an athiest and I usually support these guys but this is rediculous.

[chequita guevara]

I think that this is a case of them going to far. After all, the name of the town is The Crosses.

[Dis]

I don't see any crosses

[Urban Ranger]

Re: Las Cruces, New Mexico sued for sculpture of (gasp) crosses!

Originally posted by Lincoln
The $21,000 steel sculpture is the work of Las Cruces artist Ruth Bird.

It has an eight-foot-wide metal circle enclosing three crosses that stand for unity, strength and excellence.

Why were crosses used, and why did it cost $21,000?

[chequita guevara]

Re: Re: Las Cruces, New Mexico sued for sculpture of (gasp) crosses!

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Why were crosses used, and why did it cost $21,000?

Because it's the name of the city. Las Cruces is Spanish for The Crosses.

[Sava]

either you have seperation of church and state, or you don't... as miniscule and harmless as this may seem... it still is a violation... if it is a religious symbol... it really doesn't look like a christian cross to me, however.

[Urban Ranger]

Re: Re: Re: Las Cruces, New Mexico sued for sculpture of (gasp) crosses!

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Because it's the name of the city. Las Cruces is Spanish for The Crosses.

Indeed. Yet in the West the cross had come to symbolise Christianity. The city supporting people building crosses is not a good idea. I don't necessarily agree with the people bringing the law suit, but ye gawd, a lot of people are daft.

[DinoDoc]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Las Cruces, New Mexico sued for sculpture of (gasp) crosses!

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Indeed. Yet in the West the cross had come to symbolise Christianity.

Would you suggest they change the name of the city?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Las Cruces, New Mexico sued for sculpture of (gasp) crosses!

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


Indeed. Yet in the West the cross had come to symbolise Christianity. The city supporting people building crosses is not a good idea. I don't necessarily agree with the people bringing the law suit, but ye gawd, a lot of people are daft.

I guess we'll have to get rid of all those railroad crossing signs then. Not to mention map and GIS symbols.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Sava
either you have seperation of church and state, or you don't... as miniscule and harmless as this may seem... it still is a violation... if it is a religious symbol... it really doesn't look like a christian cross to me, however.

Under the First Amendment, you don't. You have a prohibition of establishment, not a blanket prohibition of any passing reference.

This is abstract enough, and in a limited enough context (unlike ol' Roy's 10 commandments ), that these clowns' suit won't have a prayer in court.

[Kirnwaffen]

*sigh*

Aren't there laws about frivolous lawsuits?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes... Rule 11 of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure .