Florida AU chapter fights eviction from public library. (People & Events).Members of an Americans United chapter in Florida found themselves without a place to meet after city officials in Tarpon tarpon (tär`pŏn), common name for members of the family Elopidae, large herringlike game fish of the warm seas of the Western Hemisphere, ranging occasionally from Long Island to Brazil and to the west coast of Africa and entering freshwater Springs evicted them from the public library, claiming that organizations that discuss political or religious topics may not use community facilities. Library officials later reversed themselves and said that the Suncoast Chapter of Americans United could continue meeting in the library for a few more months but announced that all private organizations would be kicked out of the library effective September 2003. The AU chapter had been meeting in the library once a month for about two years when it was suddenly denied access to the facility in September. Officials at the library said they came upon AU's name during a routine review of community groups that use the library and decided to deny further access. Gerald Eckstein, president of the AU Suncoast Chapter, pointed out that the organization is non-partisan and non-sectarian, but city officials would not budge. City Attorney John Hubbard John Hubbard (March 22, 1794 – February 6, 1869) was the 18th Governor of Maine in the United States. Hubbard was a native of Readfield, Maine. He was born March 22, 1794, and was a son of Dr. John and Olive Wilson Hubbard, both natives of New Hampshire. told The Suncoast News that the city "has to remain neutral and impartial Favoring neither; disinterested; treating all alike; unbiased; equitable, fair, and just. when it comes to all political or religious matters. It appears that this group is both religious and political." Attorneys with Americans United's national office believed the policy was clearly unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. and let officials in Tarpon Springs know that. In a Nov. 4 letter, AU Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan and AU Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Counsel Alex J. Luchenitser advised Tarpon Springs Mayor Frank DiDonato and other community officials to alter the policy to permit all community groups access to the library. Other organizations in the city have used library meeting rooms, including an investment club, the Daughters of the American Revolution Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a Colonial patriotic society in the United States, open to women having one or more ancestors who aided the cause of the Revolution. The society was organized (1890) at Washington, D.C. , a youth soccer league and a writers' club. AU argued that the Supreme Court has clearly said that once a community opens a facility to one outside group, it must allow them all access. Khan and Luchenitser made it clear that Americans United would pursue litigation if the AU chapter was not allowed back into the library. In response, city officials decided to deny all groups access to the library. AU called that policy an unnecessary overreaction o·ver·re·act intr.v. o·ver·re·act·ed, o·ver·re·act·ing, o·ver·re·acts To react with unnecessary or inappropriate force, emotional display, or violence. . |
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