Christians in the city of Albany, California, are fighting to restore a hilltop cross overlooking the San Francisco Bay after the city removed it in June.
took down the cross after years of legal battles between the city council and a local community service group, the Albany Lions Club, which had maintained the structure for decades. The Albany City Council argued the cross shouldn't remain as a religious symbol on public property and a judge agreed, granting the city possession of the cross in a prejudgment order last year.
"The people of the community used to have Easter services there annually, going back to when my mom was a little girl. In fact, the fire department would help put the cross up on the hill. And so this was something my grandparents were able to do to preserve the heritage of the people," she explained."This is the history of the cross. It's nothing like people are making it out to be.
"To innocent newcomers, the cross might just be a lovely tribute to their faith," the former council member said, according to."But to people who knew the background, especially those who had experienced the Klan period, the cross would carry a very different message." The Lions Club is not political or religiously affiliated, but raises money for causes in the community. Pope, a U.S. Navy veteran, said the group offered to buy the property from the city last year but the city council refused.
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