**Previously recorded by Phyllis Schlafly // March 2016 **
The small town of Knoxville, Iowa has proved that concerned grass roots can hold elected officials accountable for their decisions in office. The city received a threatening letter from the liberal organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The letter demanded that Knoxville remove what they called a breach of separation of church and state. The alleged breach was a silhouette of a soldier kneeling before a cross. The silhouette was placed in Knoxville’s park by the local chapter of the American Veterans organization. The veterans wanted the memorial to honor citizens of the city who had made the ultimate sacrifice in combat.
After the letter was sent demanding that the memorial be taken down, the issue was brought before Knoxville’s city council. Citizens of the city gave their overwhelming support to keep the memorial by holding a rally. They also pledged their support to any city council member who would keep the memorial. Nevertheless, the city council voted 3-2 to remove the memorial. Immediately, 2,000 small white crosses were placed in yards all over town in support of the memorial.
The day after the city council’s decision was Election Day, and two of the three city council members who opposed the memorial were voted out of office. The third councilman who opposed the memorial chose not to run for reelection. Clearly, this incident shows that voters can hold elected officials accountable for their actions. Your vote is important to those who represent you. Do not be silenced by big liberal organizations like Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The city of Knoxville, Iowa is proof that a grassroots effort can be effective in the fight for traditional American values.
