{"id":44431,"date":"2025-08-08T10:55:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T14:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/?page_id=44431"},"modified":"2025-10-22T10:40:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:40:29","slug":"quincy-ma-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/quincy-ma-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Quincy MA Lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"44431\" class=\"elementor elementor-44431\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-f1b188f e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f1b188f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-5e9d3cb e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5e9d3cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8e35ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d8e35ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Protecting church-state separation in Massachusetts<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-d4e731b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d4e731b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a934c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"6a934c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/EMcybUSRHwg?feature=shared&quot;,&quot;cc_load_policy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;yt_privacy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;play_on_mobile&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;mute&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-dfe1e56 animated-slow e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"dfe1e56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-94070ff e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"94070ff\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-d73cfcd e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d73cfcd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5127ce2 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5127ce2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Summary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1d288e black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f1d288e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mayor Thomas Koch of Quincy, Massachusetts, planned to use $850,000 of taxpayer money to install two large religious statues at the entrance of a new public safety building. But Quincy residents knew this was a violation of church-state separation. No one seeking emergency services should have to pass by religious statues that imply one faith is favored over all others.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On May 27, 2025, AU and allies filed a lawsuit on behalf of a group of 15 multifaith and nonreligious Quincy residents to stop the city from installing the statues. The lawsuit explains that the plan \u2013 conceived and spearheaded by Mayor Koch \u2013 promotes one religion over others, and religion over nonreligion, violating the Massachusetts Constitution\u2019s religious freedom protections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1224416 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1224416\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-058643c black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"058643c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Resources<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-4100398 e-grid e-con-full ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4100398\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d778f8e elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"d778f8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Details\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-list-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more about this important case\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd0b820 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"dd0b820\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Case Materials\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCase Materials\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRead court documents\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bf7559 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"6bf7559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_media\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Media\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-video\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_media\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMedia\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRelated videos and podcasts\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38b4bd5 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"38b4bd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Press\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-newspaper\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRead our latest statements about the cases\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fde2ebc elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"fde2ebc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Plaintiffs\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaintiffs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more about our Plantiffs\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-e253a5a sidebar-right e-con-full animated-slow e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e253a5a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-3bf7c3c e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-hidden-tablet e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3bf7c3c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-277f93f elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"277f93f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<script>\r\n  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {\r\n    const sidebar = document.querySelector('.sidebar-right'); \/\/ Sidebar container\r\n    const sidebarGrid = document.querySelector('.sidebar-grid'); \/\/ Sidebar child content\r\n    const toggleButton = document.querySelector('.sidebar-toggle'); \/\/ Elementor button widget\r\n\r\n    toggleButton.addEventListener('click', function (event) {\r\n      event.preventDefault(); \/\/ Prevent default link behavior\r\n\r\n      \/\/ Toggle 'collapsed' class on the sidebar\r\n      const isCollapsed = sidebar.classList.toggle('collapsed');\r\n\r\n      \/\/ Show or hide the sidebar grid based on state\r\n      sidebarGrid.style.display = isCollapsed ? 'none' : 'block';\r\n\r\n      \/\/ Toggle the button's collapsed state\r\n      toggleButton.classList.toggle('collapsed', isCollapsed);\r\n    });\r\n  });\r\n<\/script>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9eaa8b0 elementor-align-justify sidebar-toggle elementor-laptop-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"9eaa8b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9138145 e-grid e-con-full sidebar-grid ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9138145\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e97f10 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"8e97f10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Details\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-list-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17e85d0 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"17e85d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Case Materials\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCase Materials\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b6cfda elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"1b6cfda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_media\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Media\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-video\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_media\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMedia\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0d4b14 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"b0d4b14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Press\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-newspaper\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a1492a elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"0a1492a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Plaintiffs\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaintiffs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-95bbbe5 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"95bbbe5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a1f7a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"6a1f7a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_details\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d21a4c elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"9d21a4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-list-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1914df1 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1914df1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-83794ad e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"83794ad\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bdc356 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2bdc356\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">No one should have to pass religious statues to access a public safety building<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8029a2 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b8029a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In February 2025, news reports revealed Quincy Mayor Koch\u2019s plans to install two imposing, 10-foot-tall bronze statues depicting Catholic saints at the entrance to the city\u2019s new public safety building. Koch also intended to finance these statues, at an estimated cost of $850,000, with taxpayer money. The mayor had already commissioned the statues by the time the plans were uncovered.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the City Council voted numerous times to approve funding for the new public safety building, Mayor Koch\u2019s statue plan was never presented or discussed at those meetings, and the public was never given an opportunity to weigh in on it. At another council meeting, the mayor\u2019s staff dismissed all concerns about the cost, transparency, and legality of his plan.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installing religious statues in front of a public building directly violates the fundamental principles of church-state separation and religious freedom outlined in the Massachusetts Constitution, which requires government buildings and other public spaces to be inclusive of people of all religions and none. By commissioning these statues, Mayor Koch misused the authority of his office and is implicitly signaling that one religion is favored over others.<\/span><\/p><h2>Abuse of power and violation of the Massachusetts Constitution<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Americans United and its allies reached out to Mayor Koch and city council, raising serious constitutional concerns. In addition, a group of local faith leaders from the Quincy Interfaith Network issued a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/QUINCY.INTERFAITH.NETWORK\/posts\/pfbid02AqxijFnkwF9hZuLNhr1WvXAGUxXHRXEnLeMi3PAH7AuLMbrM9gG4hPa19akgVzLXl?rdid=bL3kuIZWXiOpyNOL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> objecting to the plan, urging city officials to \u201creconsider this decision and instead seek secular design elements that reflect the shared values of our entire community \u2013\u00a0 justice and inclusion for all.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it became clear that Mayor Koch was moving forward with his plan despite the public\u2019s and AU\u2019s objections, AU and our allies sued.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMayor Koch is abusing the power of his government office to impose religious beliefs on all Quincy residents,\u201d said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lawsuit alleges that the planned religious statues violate Article 3 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights by imposing religious symbols upon all who work in, visit, or pass by the public safety building; by conveying the message that Quincy is exclusively a Catholic community and that non-Catholics do not belong or are less valued; and by excessively entangling the City with religion.<\/span><\/p><h2>Freedom without favor and equality without exception<\/h2><p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t about opposing anyone\u2019s faith\u2014it\u2019s about ensuring government neutrality so everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, feels equally welcome and protected,\u201d said plaintiff Gilly Rosenthol, who is Jewish. \u201cNo one should be compelled to pass religious monuments to access essential public services. It sends a troubling message about who is included and who is excluded in our community.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>On October 14, 2025<\/strong>, the court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the installation of the statues. In its ruling, the court emphasized that \u201c[a] core function of the new public safety building is to facilitate and promote public access to law enforcement,\u201d and that \u201c[v]ictims and witnesses entering such a building often must overcome emotional and psychological hurdles, and intimidation to report crimes and seek police assistance\u201d including \u201cthe question of whether the police will treat their claims with the gravity warranted and treat them equally as any other individual, regardless of religious beliefs.\u201d As a result, it concluded that our lawsuit raised a valid concern that \u201cmembers of the community not adherent to Catholicism or Christian teaching who pass beneath the two statues to report a crime may reasonably question whether they will be treated equally.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-78127fe e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"78127fe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc3d139 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"fc3d139\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_casematerials\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-598f83b elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"598f83b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCase Materials\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-25fdc18 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"25fdc18\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a28fac7 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a28fac7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d183b3 e-n-tabs-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-tabs\" data-id=\"0d183b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;tabs_justify_horizontal&quot;:&quot;start&quot;,&quot;horizontal_scroll&quot;:&quot;disable&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-tabs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs\" data-widget-number=\"13730739\" aria-label=\"Tabs. Open items with Enter or Space, close with Escape and navigate using the Arrow keys.\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs-heading\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-137307391\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab-index=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-137307391\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 1;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tLegal Case \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-137307392\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-137307392\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 2;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-file-pdf\"><\/i>\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-file-pdf\"><\/i>\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tCase Documents\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider e-active elementor-element elementor-element-7738018 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" id=\"e-n-tab-content-137307391\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-137307391\" data-tab-index=\"1\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 1;\" data-id=\"7738018\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58cd6cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-jet-listing-grid\" data-id=\"58cd6cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"jet-listing-grid.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"jet-listing-grid jet-listing\"><div class=\"jet-listing-grid__items grid-col-desk-1 grid-col-tablet-1 grid-col-mobile-1 jet-listing-grid--39693\" data-queried-id=\"44431|WP_Post\" data-nav=\"{&quot;enabled&quot;:false,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;more_el&quot;:null,&quot;query&quot;:[],&quot;widget_settings&quot;:{&quot;lisitng_id&quot;:39693,&quot;posts_num&quot;:1,&quot;columns&quot;:1,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:1,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;column_min_width&quot;:240,&quot;column_min_width_tablet&quot;:240,&quot;column_min_width_mobile&quot;:240,&quot;inline_columns_css&quot;:false,&quot;is_archive_template&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_status&quot;:[&quot;publish&quot;],&quot;use_random_posts_num&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;max_posts_num&quot;:9,&quot;not_found_message&quot;:&quot;No data was found&quot;,&quot;is_masonry&quot;:false,&quot;equal_columns_height&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;use_load_more&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;load_more_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;load_more_type&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;load_more_offset&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:0,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;use_custom_post_types&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;custom_post_types&quot;:[&quot;case&quot;],&quot;hide_widget_if&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;carousel_enabled&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;slides_to_scroll&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrow_icon&quot;:&quot;fa fa-angle-left&quot;,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;inject_alternative_items&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;injection_items&quot;:[],&quot;scroll_slider_enabled&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;scroll_slider_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;custom_query&quot;:false,&quot;custom_query_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;_element_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;collapse_first_last_gap&quot;:false,&quot;list_tag_selection&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;list_items_wrapper_tag&quot;:&quot;div&quot;,&quot;list_item_tag&quot;:&quot;div&quot;,&quot;empty_items_wrapper_tag&quot;:&quot;div&quot;}}\" data-page=\"1\" data-pages=\"1\" data-listing-source=\"posts\" data-listing-id=\"39693\" data-query-id=\"33\"><div class=\"jet-listing-grid__item jet-listing-dynamic-post-41430\" data-post-id=\"41430\"  >\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"jet-listing-items\" data-elementor-id=\"39693\" class=\"elementor elementor-39693\" data-elementor-post-type=\"jet-engine\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8aa027f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8aa027f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-71dae28 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"71dae28\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-c080507 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c080507\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ba21e7 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-ae-post-title\" data-id=\"8ba21e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ae-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"ae-element-post-title\">Fitzmaurice v. City of Quincy<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-173818b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"173818b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e3a2dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-ae-post-meta\" data-id=\"7e3a2dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout_mode&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"ae-post-meta.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ae-post-meta-list-wrapper ae-pm-layout-horizontal ae-pm-layout-tablet- ae-pm-layout-mobile-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ae-post-meta-item-wrapper ae-post-date-10-14-2025\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ae-element-post-date-label\">\n\t\t\t\tLast modified\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"ae-element-post-date\" title=\"2:52 PM\" rel=\"date\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"ae-post-date-10-14-2025\">2025.10.14<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1f20eae e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1f20eae\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-4f330c5 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4f330c5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff53955 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff53955\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">STATUS<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ca7310f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ca7310f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b62cb50 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b62cb50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Ongoing<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-20b08ab e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"20b08ab\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d809209 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d809209\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">TYPE<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8377e4f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8377e4f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23cc8ef black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23cc8ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Counsel<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ca4f6ad e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ca4f6ad\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14cfbff black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"14cfbff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">COURT<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-827a68b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"827a68b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d949e29 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d949e29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>State Court<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-bd01d5c e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bd01d5c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feafe53 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"feafe53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ISSUES<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ad00fbd e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ad00fbd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdc867d black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bdc867d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Religious Displays<\/span>, <span>Religious Minorities<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96f2666 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"96f2666\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><p>The city of Quincy, Massachusetts, plans to install two large religious statues of Catholic saints at the entrance of the city\u2019s new public safety building.<\/p>\n<p>In early February, the Patriot Ledger published the first\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patriotledger.com\/story\/news\/2025\/02\/08\/saints-statues-new-police-fire-station-quincy-ma-st-michael-st-florian\/78258726007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a>\u00a0about Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch\u2019s plan to display the two ten-foot-tall bronze statues of Catholic saints, which would flank the entrance of the Quincy Police Department\u2019s new headquarters. The mayor had already commissioned the statues \u2014 with a cost to taxpayers of at least $850,000 \u2014 by the time the plans were uncovered by local media. Although the City Council voted numerous times to approve funding for the new public safety building, Mayor Koch\u2019s plan was never presented or discussed at those meetings, and the public was never given an opportunity to weigh in on it. At a council meeting later that month, the mayor\u2019s staff dismissed all concerns about the cost, transparency, and legality of the plan.<\/p>\n<p>In the weeks following news of the religious statues, multiple groups wrote letters to the mayor and City Council \u2014 including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AU-Letter-to-Quincy-Mass.-on-religious-statues-3.11.25.pdf\">Americans United<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclum.org\/sites\/default\/files\/aclu_of_massachusetts_letter_to_quincy_officials_-_february_24_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACLU of Massachusetts<\/a>, and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ffrf.org\/uploads\/City%20of%20Quincy%2C%20MA.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Freedom From Religion Foundation<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 raising serious constitutional concerns. In addition, a group of local faith leaders from the Quincy Interfaith Network issued\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/QUINCY.INTERFAITH.NETWORK\/posts\/pfbid02AqxijFnkwF9hZuLNhr1WvXAGUxXHRXEnLeMi3PAH7AuLMbrM9gG4hPa19akgVzLXl?rdid=bL3kuIZWXiOpyNOL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a statement<\/a>\u00a0objecting to the plan.\u00a0But the city pressed forward with its plan.<\/p>\n<p>On May 27, 2025, Americans United joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the ACLU, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation in filing a lawsuit on behalf of a multifaith group of Quincy residents and taxpayers. Our lawsuit seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions that would prevent the City from proceeding with its unconstitutional plan. We argue that the planned religious statues violate Article 3 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights by imposing religious symbols upon all who work in, visit, or pass by the public safety building; by conveying the message that Quincy is exclusively a Catholic community and that non-Catholics do not belong or are less valued; and by excessively entangling the City with religion.<\/p>\n<p>On October 14, 2025, the court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the installation of the statues. In its ruling, the court emphasized that \u201c[a] core function of the new public safety building is to facilitate and promote public access to law enforcement,\u201d and that \u201c[v]ictims and witnesses entering such a building often must overcome emotional and psychological hurdles, and intimidation to report crimes and seek police assistance\u201d including \u201cthe question of whether the police will treat their claims with the gravity warranted and treat them equally as any other individual, regardless of religious beliefs.\u201d As a result, it concluded that our lawsuit raised a valid concern that \u201cmembers of the community not adherent to Catholicism or Christian teaching who pass beneath the two statues to report a crime may reasonably question whether they will be treated equally.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider  elementor-element elementor-element-494251c e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" id=\"e-n-tab-content-137307392\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-137307392\" data-tab-index=\"2\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 2;\" data-id=\"494251c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-f2b26e9 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f2b26e9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2252711 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2252711\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Case Documents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d0cb71 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5d0cb71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8ff034 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"d8ff034\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\r\n  <ul class=\"case-documents\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Quincy-Mass-Complaint-5.27.25.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> Complaint 5.27.25<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AU-Letter-to-Quincy-Mass.-on-religious-statues-3.11.25.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> AU Letter to Quincy 3.11.25<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PI-MTD-Order.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> PI &amp; MTD Order<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-d1287a4 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d1287a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d71078 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"3d71078\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_media\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47eb035 elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"47eb035\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-video\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMedia\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8513df8 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8513df8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fafb655 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fafb655\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">News and Media\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8fa7cf3 e-grid e-con-full ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8fa7cf3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d56d4bd elementor-cta--skin-cover elementor-cta--valign-middle elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"d56d4bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcboston.com\/investigations\/quincy-statues-raise-concerns-of-price-transparency-and-religious-freedom\/3665446\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-27-161344-1-e1748444182208.webp);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"One of the religious statues planned for Quincy, Massachusetts, public safety building\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item elementor-animated-item--grow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tQuincy statues raise concerns of price, transparency and religious freedom\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-836d61b elementor-cta--skin-cover elementor-cta--valign-middle elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"836d61b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcvb.com\/article\/quincy-massachusetts-residents-lawsuit-over-plan-for-religious-statues-on-public-building\/64897992\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-06-170024.webp);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"two Catholic Statues\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item elementor-animated-item--grow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tQuincy, Mass. residents sue city, mayor over plan for religious statues on public building\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8142fba elementor-cta--skin-cover elementor-cta--valign-middle elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"8142fba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wbur.org\/news\/2025\/05\/28\/aclu-quincy-koch-lawsuit-catholic-saint-statues\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-06-170239.webp);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"An artist&#039;s rendering of Quincy&#039;s new public safety building, showing the 10-foot tall statues of statues of Saint Michael and Saint Florian (Source: Norfolk County Superior Court)\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item elementor-animated-item--grow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tQuincy residents sue over plans to put statues of Catholic saints outside public safety building\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1e8c1ae elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1e8c1ae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ab3561 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"2ab3561\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_plaintiffs\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-652bbaa elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"652bbaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaintiffs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-af5eb9d elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"af5eb9d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-695db11 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"695db11\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253821c elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"253821c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;all_collapsed&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;multiple&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-3900\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-3900\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Reverend Darcy Roake &amp; Adrian Van Young <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-edfdf94 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3900\" data-id=\"edfdf94\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-70a0717 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3900\" data-id=\"70a0717\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e867aae black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e867aae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cAs an interfaith family, we strongly value religious inclusion and diversity, and we teach our children that all people are equal and have inherent dignity and worth. The Ten Commandments displays required by this law fly in the face of these values and send a message of religious intolerance. They will not only undermine our ability to instill these values in our children, but they will also help create an unwelcoming and oppressive school environment for children, like ours, who don\u2019t believe in the state\u2019s official version of scripture. We believe that no child should feel excluded in public school because of their family\u2019s faith tradition.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-3901\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-3901\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Reverend Jeff Sims <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-59cb738 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3901\" data-id=\"59cb738\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-43598de e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3901\" data-id=\"43598de\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9607251 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9607251\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cBy favoring one version of the Ten Commandments and mandating that it be posted in public schools, the government is intruding on deeply personal matters of religion. I believe that it\u2019s critical for my children to receive and understand scripture within the context of our faith, which honors God\u2019s gift of diversity and teaches that all people are equal. This law sends a contrary message of religious intolerance that one denomination or faith system is officially preferable to others, and that those who don\u2019t adhere to it are lesser in worth and status. As a pastor and father, I cannot, in good conscience, sit by silently while our political representatives usurp God\u2019s authority for themselves and trample our fundamental religious-freedom rights.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-3902\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-3902\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Jennifer Harding and Benjamin Owens <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-4e95613 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3902\" data-id=\"4e95613\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c33c6c3 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c33c6c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cAs a nonreligious family, we oppose the government forcibly subjecting our child to a religious scripture that we don\u2019t believe in. The State of Louisiana should not direct a religious upbringing of our child and require students to observe the state\u2019s preferred religious doctrine in every classroom.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-3903\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"4\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-3903\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Erin Hawley and David Hawley <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a9db584 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3903\" data-id=\"a9db584\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4319745 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4319745\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cWe instill moral and ethical values in our children through positive concepts, such as love and caring for others, not biblical commandments. As Unitarian Universalists, we strongly believe that every person has the right to undertake a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. That cannot happen when the government forces scripture on people, especially children\u2014who are at the beginning of their spiritual journeys.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-3904\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"5\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-3904\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Joshua Herlands <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-283b8b8 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3904\" data-id=\"283b8b8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-0697ee4 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-3904\" data-id=\"0697ee4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98ef574 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98ef574\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cAs a parent, an American, and a Jew, I am appalled that state lawmakers are forcing public schools to post a specific version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom. These displays distort the Jewish significance of the Ten Commandments and send the troubling message to students that one set of religious laws is favored over all others. Tolerance is at the heart of our family\u2019s practice of Judaism, and this effort to evangelize students, including my children, is antithetical to our core religious beliefs and our values as Americans.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a624427 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"a624427\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_press\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-de766a8 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"de766a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae6336c elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"ae6336c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_press\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1cf550 elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"f1cf550\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-newspaper\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a9f1b97 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a9f1b97\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-755d508 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"755d508\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30ee696 elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"30ee696\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;all_collapsed&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;multiple&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-5130\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-5130\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Multifaith group sues Quincy, Mass., to stop religious statues at public building <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-356040e e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-5130\" data-id=\"356040e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-614088c black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"614088c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>May, 2025<\/strong> \u2013<\/p><p>A multifaith group of Quincy, Massachusetts, residents and taxpayers filed a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Quincy-Mass-Complaint-5.27.25.pdf\">lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0today in Norfolk Superior Court to halt the planned installation of two large religious statues of Catholic saints at the entrance of the city\u2019s new public safety building. The plaintiffs are residents of diverse faiths who do not want their government officials and publicly-owned property to promote specific religious beliefs. Their lawsuit explains that the plan \u2014 conceived and spearheaded by Mayor Thomas Koch \u2014 promotes one religion over others, and religion over nonreligion, violating the Massachusetts Constitution.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/quincy-ma-religious-statues-lawsuit\/\">Read statement here<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc52e79 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"fc52e79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cafd36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9cafd36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Are you experiencing religious indoctrination in your public school? \n\nWe can help.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ab548d elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"0ab548d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/report-a-violation\/\" title=\"Take Action\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">report a violation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-40a595c e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"40a595c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-e7cc7fb e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e7cc7fb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-30d3cf2 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"30d3cf2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c661002 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c661002\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-9431\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1-250x300.webp 250w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1-167x200.webp 167w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9d1ca0d e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9d1ca0d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7944df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a7944df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Help AU Challenge Violations of Church-State Separation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b53dbd1 elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b53dbd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/secure.au.org\/a\/protect-public-schools-oklahoma\" title=\"Donate\" id=\"donate-home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">DONATE TODAY<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protecting church-state separation in Massachusetts Summary Mayor Thomas Koch of Quincy, Massachusetts, planned to use $850,000 of taxpayer money to install two large religious statues at the entrance of a new public safety building. But Quincy residents knew this was a violation of church-state separation. No one seeking emergency services should have to pass by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":44643,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[260],"issue_tax":[],"class_list":["post-44431","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-legalcasesearch"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44431"},{"taxonomy":"issue_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_tax?post=44431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}