ACLU files suit against DC transit agency over refusal to display religious group's ads

(RNS) — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for refusing to display ads for a religious group, claiming they violate the agency’s advertisement guidelines.

The ACLU said the agency’s advertisement policy discriminated against certain opinions and violated the First Amendment, according to the complaint filed Tuesday (Dec. 12).

“We don’t understand why there should be a ban on religious advertisements. Religion is, after all, a point of view about the world,” said Arthur Spitzer, senior counsel at ACLU.

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One of the rejected ads in WallBuilders v. WMATA. (Courtesy image)

The WMATA claimed the ads violated resolutions No. 9 and No. 12 of its . The two recommendations prohibit the display of ads that “influence members of the public regarding an issue on which there are varying opinions” and “promote or oppose any religion, religious practice or belief.”

Although the organization’s religious beliefs are clearly stated on its website, the ads didn’t express any religious views, claimed ACLU’s Spitzer.

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