The town of Middleton, Wisconsin is considering altering the rules concerning group activities at its parks, one which may do away with accepting event reservations and instead establish a “first come, first serve” policy.
According to city administrator Mike Davis, he made the proposal to “to show that the city is not giving preferential treatment to any single group that wants to use the large pavilion at Fireman’s Park.”
This is a big deal, apparently, because a group of parents have been engaged in a weekly “Jesus Lunch” event where they meet with adjacent Middleton High School students “to eat, discuss their Christian faith and distribute Bibles.”
There was a legal scuffle three months ago as to who exactly had jurisdiction over the park; the point became moot in early May when the school district backed off.
If Davis’ plan gets approved, it will nullify the “Jesus Lunch” parents’ park reservations — which are established currently for an entire year.
Davis admits that no other group has tried to reserve the pavilion during the school year. He says only two other groups – one of them the Madison, Wisconsin based FFRF [Freedom From Religion Foundation] – have even inquired about using the pavilion during school hours.
Protesters from the FFRF showed up during the Jesus Lunches several times in the spring to protest and disrupt the parents and students, who simply want to be left alone to eat and discuss their faith.
One week the protests prompted an exchange of heated words between students and the protesters.
The proposed ordinance has fed speculation that the city may be maneuvering to end the Jesus Lunches […]
MORE: Christian confab pestered by district officials, atheist group
“You would think the city of Middleton would want to support people from the city of Middleton, not discourage them,” said attorney Phillip Stamman, who represents the mothers who host the Jesus Lunches. “They seem more interested in an outside group than they are in residents of the city.
“This is very disappointing. If there is no significant demand (for use of the park pavilion), why would you discourage someone from renting it? It’s disappointing for citizens, from a free speech perspective, and it’s probably illegal, too.
“The city can put neutral restrictions on a public park. But it’s not allowed to single out an organization because it doesn’t like their speech. There’s no question this is happening right now. This is about a group of citizens who want to put out a message about Jesus, and (city officials) are only considering this ordinance because they don’t want that message.
“That’s targeted hostility toward one group, which is exactly what the First Amendment prohibits.”
Davis did say that he and the police chief recommended against allowing use of the park pavilion during school hours.
Attorney Stamman noted the city attorney has advised against Davis’ proposal: “He knows they are encouraging a lawsuit if they pass it.”
MORE: ‘Jesus Lunches’ to continue as school backs down
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