U.S. Government Joins-in Chorus With Vets Saying: Don't Tear Down Mt. Soledad Cross!

Supreme Court Review More Likely to Save the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross Since the U.S. Solicitor General Joins Supreme Court Appeal

SAN DIEGO, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Liberty Institute responded to the long-awaited decision of U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. to join-in seeking the U.S. Supreme Court's review of the Ninth Circuit ruling that the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross is unconstitutional.

One month ago, the Liberty Institute filed an appeal to the Supreme Court on behalf of the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association seeking to preserve the 29-foot cross that overlooks the city of San Diego, CA.

"The U.S. Government decided to do the right thing and fight alongside the veterans in honoring the selfless sacrifice and service of the millions of veterans who courageously stood for the United States of America," said Kelly Shackelford, CEO/President of the Liberty Institute. "Today, we are one step closer to our goal of having the Supreme Court ending this travesty for good -- for the sake of all veterans and their memorials nationwide."

According to a 2008 study by the Georgetown Law Journal, there is a 70 percent chance the Supreme Court will grant a hearing of the case now that the Solicitor General has filed an appeal.  The Mt. Soledad case is, thus, expected to be the only religious liberty, or religion clauses, case scheduled for the Court's upcoming term.

On Feb. 9, Liberty Institute launched a national campaign to save the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross and other similar memorials that contain religious imagery through their "Don't Tear Me Down" campaign, www.DontTearMeDown.com. In addition, they produced a song by the same name by singer-songwriter Jon Christopher Davis that conveys the heart of the movement. It can be downloaded on I-Tunes, and a portion of the proceeds goes toward fighting to save national monuments under attack.

Liberty institute represented 4 million veterans at The Supreme Court in the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial Case, which the high court stated should stand.  The organization is also defending the Big Mountain Jesus Veterans Memorial, another veterans monument on public land targeted for destruction by atheist groups.

Liberty Institute is a nonprofit legal group dedicated to protecting and restoring religious liberties across America. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.

SOURCE Liberty Institute