City Civil Rights Commission Looks To Rename ‘Good Friday’ To ‘Spring Holiday’
DAVENPORT, IA. – The city civil rights commission voiced a concern that calling the upcomingpaid city holiday “good friday” violated the separation of church and state. But the change to theSpring holiday had at least one Alderman calling the move political correctness run amuck.
Hart reflected on what’s been a stressful past couple of days; a situation he says caught him off guard. “We just talked about boy the city ought to take a good look at calling it good friday,” said Tim Hart with the Civil Rights Commission.
That’s because it was last spring that the commission sent a letter to city leaders concerned that observing good friday was in violation of the consitution.
First to speak up this weekend was Alderman Bill Edmond who not only called it political correctness run amuck, he claimed the idea never came before the city council. “We have had no citizen come forward and say they don’t like this, ” said Bill Edmond, 2nd Ward Alderman.He argued the volunteer commission had no authority to make a change. The council did and they ought to have voted either way.
“I fully support the civil rights commission as does everybody in this city everbody on this city council however they were wrong this time,” said Edmond.
Chairman Hart admits the commission doesn’t have the power to make the change, only a suggestion. Now, a release from the city admits it wasn’t the commission’s call. City administrator Craig Malin forwarded the “spring” holiday wording, “in error”, in a recommendation to staff.
But after further review they’ll refer to the upcoming observance as good friday after all leaving edmond with this advice for all those as fired up as he was.
Chairman Hart thinks the city is opening itself up for a lawsuit by observing good friday, but alderman edmond points out they know of no complaints from citizens so far and the city has been recognizing the holiday for decades.
After this weekend’s debate neither men will be surprised if this is not the last they’ve heard of the issue. The debate online has been tense with people on both sides of the issue voicing their opinion. What do you think? Login and comment below.
