www.LC.org

Ft. Collins, CO – The City Council of Ft. Collins, Colorado, rejected a controversial proposal to ban the colors red and green and to otherwise eliminate religious Christmas decorations. The three-hour meeting ended with a 6-1 decision to continue the tradition of decorating the city with red and green lights, adorned wreaths and Christmas trees, and other décor associated with Christmas.

A city-appointed "Holiday Display Task Force" urged the city to not use the colors red and green, since they are associated with Christmas. The Task Force proposed that decorations include white lights, winter symbols not traditionally associated with any particular holiday (snowflakes, icicles, etc.), and unadorned garlands of greenery (not decorated with ribbons or ornaments). The Task Force also proposed that the city remove ornaments or stars from trees and red ribbons from wreaths. The Task Force included a representative from the Northern Colorado Chapter of the ACLU. Upon learning of this proposal, Liberty Counsel issued a letter warning the City Council that its censorship is not well-grounded in legal precedent.

Over 150 people attended the meeting, and 43 people spoke overwhelmingly in favor of Christmas. Mayor Doug Hutchison noted that 95% of the emails he received sent a loud and clear message – "Don’t diminish Christmas… don’t mess with tradition."

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: "To consider banning the colors red and green because of their association with Christmas is absurd. If Christmas is censored because of its religious character, then the religious freedom of everyone is threatened."

This year Liberty Counsel launched ifs fifth annual Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign. The Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign educates and, if necessary, litigates to insure that Christmas is not censored. As part of its Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign, Liberty Counsel publishes a "Naughty and Nice" list, which lists retailers which acknowledge and those which eliminate Christmas from their retail marketing. For more information, visit www.LC.org.