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Local Sheriffs Refuse to Remove "In God We Trust" Decals

Ben Skirvin
/
WFIU

Sheriff’s departments in Cole and Callaway counties have refused to remove decals that state “In God We Trust” in response to a request from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. 

In Aronow v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of the national motto “In God We Trust” was not a violation of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. However, Madeline Ziegler of the Freedom from Religion Foundation says that doesn’t prevent it from being offensive.

“It excludes atheists and agnostics, and anyone else who doesn’t believe in one god when a government entity places stickers that read in god we all trust on the back of their patrol cars,” Ziegler explained.

Funds from the annual sheriff’s barbecue paid for the decals for approximately 30 vehicles. The County Commission has backed the decision of the departments.

 

Nathan Lawrence is an editor, documentary filmmaker and data journalist.
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