The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff Reports

Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:28 PM

Knoxville Police Department Removes Religious Plaque At Downtown Building After Complaint Filed By Atheist Group

Aleta Ledendecker with the East Tennessee chapter for the Freedom From Religion Foundation said the group called the removal of the plaque that reads, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31"

Ledendecker said a woman affiliated with the group witnessed a crash that turned into a shooting in February, and first saw the plaque when she went to KPD to give her account of the incident. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Ledendecker she found the plaque offensive.

The City of Knoxville held a news conference this morning at the City County Building. Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero spoke first, saying the plaque in question had been in place at a staff entrance for about 50 years. She said the city had never received a complaint before this one, and the city's law department looked into the complaint.


"Our law department determined this display does cross the line of government promotion of religion," Rogero said.

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said it was a "tough and emotional decision" to remove the plaque, but it was the right one.

The Knoxville Police Department announced plans today to remove a religious plaque at one of its buildings downtown in response to a complaint filed by an Atheist group.

Aleta Ledendecker with the East Tennessee chapter for the Freedom From Religion Foundation said the group called the removal of the plaque that reads, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31"

Ledendecker said a woman affiliated with the group witnessed a crash that turned into a shooting in February, and first saw the plaque when she went to KPD to give her account of the incident. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Ledendecker she found the plaque offensive.

The City of Knoxville held a news conference this morning at the City County Building. Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero spoke first, saying the plaque in question had been in place at a staff entrance for about 50 years. She said the city had never received a complaint before this one, and the city's law department looked into the complaint.

"Our law department determined this display does cross the line of government promotion of religion," Rogero said.

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said it was a "tough and emotional decision" to remove the plaque, but it was the right one.