ICC Note: The city council in Cochran, Georgia has reversed their initial decision, now voting to remove a Christian flag flying outside of the town’s city hall. Although the council had previously voted 5-1 to allow the flag, the organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued a letter of complaint to the city, claiming that the flag was unconstitutional. On April 28, another vote was held which led to the 4-1 decision to remove the flag.
By Heather Clark
05/06/2015 United States (Christian News Network) – The city council of a municipality in Georgia has decided to reverse its course regarding a Christian flag that it initially approved to fly outside of city hall, and has voted to remove the flag at the end of the week.
The city council in Cochran had voted 5-1 last month to allow the flag to stay—a white and blue flag with a red cross first created in 1897 to honor the Christian faith. The flag was meant to coincide with a Bible reading marathon from May 1-7 sponsored by the International Bible Reading Association, a private organization.
But the flag was taken down for a time by the city manager after the city attorney asserted that it could pose a legal issue.
“The city manager took the flag down because an attorney said we could have a problem,” Councilman Gary Ates told local radio station WMAZ.
However, between 75-100 area residents urged officials to restore the flag to its place.
“The people of Cochran came to a city council meeting and said, ‘Let’s put the flag back up’,” Ates explained.
Therefore, the flag was again flown outside of city hall.
But group Americans United for Separation of Church and State claimed that it had received several complaints and sent a letter to the city to assert that the flag is unconstitutional. The organization is led by Barry Lynn, who is stated to be a licensed United Church of Christ minister.
