Liberty Counsel
NEWS RELEASE

Contact: PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT - 800-671-1776

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2006

Deltona, Florida Censors Religious Paintings During Black History Month

Deltona, FL - Ronald Blossom, acting City Manager for the city of Deltona, Florida, barred three paintings which were to be part of Black History Month. Liberty Counsel has written a letter to the City Manager stating that censoring the paintings is a knee-jerk reaction not required by the Constitution and, in fact, may be in violation of the Constitution by showing hostility toward religion.

The paintings by Lloyd Marcus were part of an employee-organized display in the lobby of Deltona City Hall to celebrate Black History Month. Marcus, the Director of the Deltona Arts and Historical Center, loaned the paintings from a series. One of the three paintings censored depicts a festive New Orleans funeral procession. Another painting shows an African-American male looking out of a second-floor window to the street, where a mother is carrying one child and holding the hand of another. A partially obscured sign on the street belongs to the "Holy Refuge Church," where the name "Jesus" and the Bible is partially revealed.

Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, stated: "The Last Supper of Christ and a picture of His crucifixion are permanently displayed in the National Gallery at taxpayer expense. The Supreme Court has stated that such displays of religious art do not offend the Constitution. Florida's motto is 'In God We Trust', the same as our national motto. That phrase is emblazoned on the state's seal and flag. To remove religion from black history is like removing British heritage from Queen Elizabeth. The history of Martin Luther King cannot be separated from his fiery pulpit speeches any more than these religious paintings should be removed from a display celebrating Black History Month."

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Lloyd Marcus' web site

Deltona's web site

City's press release for Black History Month

Deltona's mayor Dennis Mulder's web site