| KING, NC (WGHP) - A Christian flag flying at the Veterans Memorial at Central Park has been removed following a city council vote on Wednesday. According to city officials, the City Council voted 3-to-1 to remove the flag, with councilman Wesley Carter being the only vote against removing the flag. City Attorney Walter Pitt said the city received a letter from the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State on August 11 and a letter from the ACLU on August 16 threatening lawsuits if the flag was not taken down. The decision to remove the flag stems from estimates that it could cost the city as much as $300000 to fight a possible lawsuit from the ACLU. "The City received inquiries from the ACLU and the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State suggesting that the Christian flag flying over the Veterans Memorial at Central Park violates the Establishment Clause of the 1st amendment to the US Constitution. At the advice of the City Attorney, the City Council voted to take down the Christian flag citing the enormous cost associated with fighting a potential law suit on the issue," said City Manager John Cater. |
