ACLU files lawsuit over monument

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The battle over a religious monument in a New Mexico city is getting more serious.

The ACLU of New Mexico filed a lawsuit against Bloomfield over the Ten Commandments monument on display on the lawn of city hall.

“The courts have looked at this issue in our federal courts circuit and found that this kind of a monument is unconstitutional,” said Peter Simonson, ACLU of New Mexico Executive Director.

The city held a dedication ceremony to unveil the monument on July 4, 2011.

The ACLU does not have a problem with the monument itself just its location, the front lawn of city hall.

“In putting up those religious beliefs, the government sends a signal, the city of Bloomfield sends a signal that those are the ones it favors and disregards all others,” Simonson said.

Wednesday, on behalf of two Bloomfield residents the ACLU filed a civil suit against the city, the mayor and some city councilors.

They want the monument removed saying it violates the first amendment.

“For us it’s a basic principle of protecting religion, ensuring that people can practice, believe what they want to believe without any sort of outside pressure from the government,” said Simonson.

News 13 contacted the Mayor as well as the city of Bloomfield’s attorney; both said they could not comment on the lawsuit.

The ACLU said it has not challenged the 45 year old Ten Commandments monument that is in front of the courthouse in Clovis because it was put there long before the courts set a precedent on the issue.