JONES FILES AMICUS BRIEF IN DEFENSE OF VETERANS MEMORIAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) has joined the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and a coalition of 13 House members in filing an amicus curiae brief petitioning the Supreme Court to hear a case involving the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declared the memorial unconstitutional because it includes a commemorative cross, prompting the district judge with jurisdiction over the case to rule in December that the cross must come down.    

The brief filed by Congressman Jones and his colleagues argues that the ruling of the Ninth Circuit is contrary to precedent set by the Supreme Court, including a decision in which the Court ruled that a Latin cross did not serve exclusively as a religious symbol but also as a symbol of respect for individuals who have nobly and heroically served the United States.

“The Mt. Soledad case represents yet another attack on our religious freedom,” said Congressman Jones.  “A long-standing memorial honoring the service members who defended our country should not be used as a vehicle to advance a political agenda.  It is my belief that the Supreme Court should reverse the decision of the Ninth Circuit and recognize that Mt. Soledad’s cross is absolutely consistent with the First Amendment.”   

The brief was also joined by California-based law firm Advocates for Faith and Freedom.  A copy of the brief is available here.