Georgia Library Sued for
Barring Display of Bibles
A Georgia man has accused the Pine Mountain Regional Library System in Manchester of violating his rights to freedom of speech and religion because it prohibited him from displaying small Bibles in the library’s free literature section. James Flournoy—represented by the American Center for Law and Justice, a law firm founded by evangelist Pat Robertson—filed a federal lawsuit February 24 claiming as unconstitutional the library’s policy that barred him from distributing paperback copies of the New Testament in a section where residents can offer free literature and post announcements, according to the February 25 Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Library director Charles Gee said Flournoy’s request was turned down last year because of a 1997 policy prohibiting public display of religious information. When Flournoy appealed, the library board upheld the director’s ruling.
In its 21-page complaint, the ACLJ claims the library’s action subverts the establishment clause of the First Amendment because it “constitutes hostility toward religion and favors non-religion over religion,” the online Freedom Forum reported February 25.
Posted March 6, 2000.
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