Mayor James Fouts
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts has a way with words, particularly in this instance.
Steve Neavling of the Motor City Muckraker reports that atheist Douglas Marshall has filed suit against the city of Warren, which is refusing to let him set up a “reason station” in the atrium of City Hall alongside a “prayer station” that has operated since 2009.
Marshall's suit, according to Motor City Muckraker, claims that Fouts and the city violated his First Amendment rights by endorsing “traditional religious beliefs over atheistic beliefs.” Fouts believes the booth would be a very negative presence, while the prayer booth is intended to comfort residents.
Fouts has offered up some choice words in defending his position to the atheist booth, telling the Associated Press:
“The city has certain values that I don’t believe are in general agreement with having an atheist station, nor in general agreement with having a Nazi station or Ku Klux Klan station. I cannot accept or will not allow a group that is disparaging of another group to have a station here.”
Did Fouts step over the line by comparing an atheist booth to a Nazi station or Ku Klux Klan station?
You judge.
-- Allan Lengel
