Lawsuit Targets Religious Monument
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) -- An atheists' group filed a lawsuit aimed at removing a granite monument of the 10 Commandments that stands outside a Levy County courthouse.
American Atheists, Inc., and Levy County resident Charles Ray Sparrow filed the lawsuit this month in federal court in Gainesville, arguing that the monument violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
"The display is religious in nature, has a primary purpose of advancing religion, and is not part of any broader exhibit, historical or otherwise,'' the lawsuit said. "It stands alone."
The lawsuit also said atheists have sought approval to place a monument on the courthouse grounds but have been denied. Levy County is on the Gulf Coast, southwest of Gainesville.
(The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)