A sign intended to welcome people to a northeastern town in Texas has been voted on by the town's city council to be removed.
The sign in Hawkins, Texas, erected in 2011, reads "Jesus welcomes you to Hawkins" and has come under scrutiny after a Wisconsin-based group-- Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF)-- sent a letter to the town officials asserting that the presence of the sign is unconstitutional and violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment. FFRF has asked that the sign be removed.
"It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the City of Hawkins to display the sign "¦ because it conveys both a government preference for religion over nonreligion, and prefers Christianity over other religions," the letter reads.
In August, the city attorney confirmed that the sign was on the private property of Crowley Funeral home. However, the City Council came to different conclusions after conducting a land survey that determined the sign was on public property, which prompted its decision to remove the sign.
People like Levonia Stone upholds the council's decision to remove the sign.
"It's a piece of board with words on it," she said. "Jesus lives in our hearts. It's up to us to as individuals to welcome people to Hawkins."
There are other residents like Marc McDonald who insists that the land is on private property after meeting with a surveyor who confirmed the city attorney's claim that the land is private, according to CBS19.
Even after the decision has been made to remove the sign, the dispute continues as to whether the sign is planted on public or private property.
