Indiana's chapter of the ACLU is suing the town, about 40 miles east of Indianapolis, arguing that the display of a Latin cross on the town square violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
The suit, brought by Knightstown resident Joseph Tomkins (it's actually Tompkins), requests immediate removal of the cross, monetary damages and a
declaration that the cross display violates the First Amendment.
Tompkins said he “objects to any of his tax dollars going to pay for the erection or maintenance of the display or the lighting of it,” according to court documents. The documents go on to say that every day, Tompkins “is forced to come into direct and unwelcome contact” with the cross on top of the tree as he drives through town. This, it says, has caused him “irreparable harm,” which can only be remedied by taking the cross down and paying Tompkins monetary damages.
How laughable is that? Really?
After doing a little digging on this Liberal snowflake, I found he has been sued a number of times by collections and in June of this year, his home was foreclosed on and was sold in a sheriff sale. So I have to wonder why he is so willing to have MY tax dollars help cover his being irresponsible but then argues how he wants HIS tax dollars spent? IF he actually pays any. Given his history of financial irresponsibility, I have to think he pays very little, if any tax whatsoever.
UPDATE: As a local, I have heard from his relatives that he is 38, and lives with his mother. He either works for cash or does not work in order to maximize his government entitlements. He is nothing more than a fragile snowflake looking for a financial windfall to afford him a safe space on Easy Street. My heart aches for his family. What a shame and disgrace he is. The pennies HIS tax dollars would have paid toward the display, IF he were a tax payer would have been miniscule compared to the tax dollars he is sucking up on the government entitlements he receives. I take SEERIOUS issue with MY legitimate tax dollars going to support this buffoon.
Back to the story…
The town square in Knightstown, a public area, is dominated by a large evergreen tree. During the Christmas season, it is decorated by the town with lights and ornaments, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court this week.
At the top of the tree is a large cross, which is illuminated at night. According to the lawsuit, the cross has been placed on the top of the tree for a number of years. There are no other holiday decorations on the square – so says the IndyStar – however, Knightstown IS my hometown and there are plenty of decorations throughout the town. Honestly, I would love to see every house in town put a sizeable cross on full display on their front lawn. If one cross on top of a very tall evergreen disturbs this asshat, then I could only hope a cross in every yard in town might drive him out of town and hopefully out of state.
Whether the court decides to remove the cross in Knightstown, polls show that a majority of Americans support government acknowledgment of religion.
In a 2005 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 83 percent of Americans said displays of Christmas symbols should be allowed on government property. In another 2005 Pew poll, 74 percent of Americans said they believed it was proper to display the Ten Commandments in government buildings.
I am beyond disgusted by this lawsuit. My precious, quaint little town is being targeted by a greedy, selfish, over-entitled snowflake that has run out of money, women, time and is looking to win the Liberal Lotto and live out his life on easy street before Donald Trump takes office and as Christians, we will no longer fear retribution for saying Merry Christmas or for praying in school, or for keeping God in our pledge.
Please leave your comments here – let me know what you think about this lawsuit that’s coming against this tiny town in the heart of the Midwest.
Being a native resident of Knightstown it sickens me to hear that this is happening. I have been gone since
1994 but i will always remember my days growing up in that little town.
I had actually moved away from this area, not far though, for several years. I went to Knightstown schools until 3rd grade. I moved back when my boys were sophomores in high school. It will always be home to me. Love it here. One bad apple isn’t about to ruin this town.
I totally agree with your assessment of this situation.I also despise the ACLU,I believe that they have done more damage than they have ever done good.The ACLU, should be ashamed for enabling this type of behavior from anyone!!
I agree. There are so many more BIGGER issues in this world for them to waste time and money on this type of silliness.
I suppose he will want you to burn the secular tree next. I hope the ACLU and the courts let this asshat know where he can put the cross, lol.
You would think at some point, there would be judges and attorneys with common sense and values enough to reject this type of lawsuit. It’s sad!
What I want to know is how are they going to pay him….obviously not in American dollars which scrall…In God We Trust” cause THAT’S JUST OFFENSIVE! lol
My husband and I drove by where he is living with his mother. There’s a Christmas tree, lights, a wreath and other Christmas decorations around the property. This is purely financially motivated. It’s disgusting.
Can you tell me the address? I would like to come into town this weekend from Ohio and stand outside with a cross.
I’m sorry, I won’t be the one to reveal those kind of details. If he does live with his mother, I think she’s got enough to worry about as it is. As it stands, he lives in a small town of about 2,000. The vast majority are not happy with his actions and I can’t even begin to imagine the level of shunning he is going to feel as the result of his actions. I have a feeling he really didn’t think this through very well. The thing is, he has caused this town to become much stronger. He has inspired a Christmas Miracle of sorts – if everyone could see the sea of crosses that are popping up all over town, it truly is a breathtaking image to behold. It’s not all bad, so he really didn’t win at all.
If I lived in your town, I would, without hesitation put a giant lighted cross on my front lawn..In addition, I would add a Nativity scene aside of it. People of Knightstown..stand up for your rights and your cultural and religious beliefs. Don’t let this swamp creature steal these away from you. It all starts with one and who knows where it all ends. The best and most peaceful way to fight back is to display (on your personal property) a cross..the biggest one you can find. And the closest to Mr. Thompkins house the better.. Go Knightstown!! Merry CHRISTmas to you! God Bless!
Gayla, your comments are right on the money! The entitlement snowflakes have become a blizzard in the last eight years. We now have safe-spaces on campuses where they blow bubbles and squeeze play doh to relieve their angst. More of the population is on the DOLE then working and these frivolous lawsuits should be outlawed. Time for this town-clown to move out of mommy’s basement, get a real job and act like a grownup.
OH I love meeting new people who define snowflakes like I do. It’s sad there are so many of them these days. He’s in his safe space at his mother’s house. If that were my child, I would have booted him out over such lame actions. This town couldn’t even afford a new police car – it can not bear the burden of this lawsuit and he knows that!
MY Comment Is This….How Come’ We Never hear this About a Jewish Star Of David”? Or Monorah On White House Property”? As a Christian i Know….The ACLU Is Supported More By Jews Then Christians. That Is My Question
This Joseph Tompkins guy is a lazy, useless moron and his lawsuit is an absolute joke. Good grief….I’m a pagan and even I couldn’t care less if Knightstown wants to put a cross on their Christmas tree! Unless the cross happens to fall off the tree and hits Mr. Tompkins on his big, empty head, there’s no way he’s entitled to any “damages.”
I absolutely LOVE your comment! Thanks for the laugh in this extremely petty situation.
This “Snowflake” as you call him has won. They took the cross down today, due to not having the finances to fight the ACLU. I personally think snowflake is to beautiful a word for this moronic idiot. He is a sorry excuse of poop. And I think that is to nice of word, but trying to be a little nice. Sorry for my ramble, this just makes my blood boil.
I used to take issue with the use of snowflake too until someone explained to me that it’s the fact that it’s delicate, fragile and melts away with the least bit of heat.
I live in a small town in Tennessee. We still have the 10 Commandments in out courthouse and plenty of manger and crosses displayed throughout our town. Even though we are gun toting, Bible thumping rednecks, so far the snowflakes stay away. We welcome true peace loving, compassionate, tolerant friendly Americans here. Anyone else will find it extremely hard to live here.
He is a disgrace. One man’s voice is all it takes to get a windfall? Easy money. How many more idiots will come from the woodwork? Absolutely unbelievable. I have heard it all.
I Think All Christians Should Complain About a “Monorah” (Jewish Symbol) On The White House Lawn…! No One Ever Complains About JEWISH Symbols”? Why Is That”?
why does he say everyday that he drives by there, he doesn’t work, so why is he driving by there everyday? Does he think tax payers enjoy paying their hard earned money to keep him on government assistant? Something needs to be done about people like him, filing frivolous lawsuits! Shame on the aclu to let 1 person dictate what should be done! I don’t live in Knightstown, but if I did, I would put up the biggest cross with the brightest lights and keep it up! There are more crucial things that is going on that is more important than this. i agree that the mother should kick him out! Too bad someone can’t put hundreds of crosses in his yard!
Apparently he works for cash pay for a small business that is located on the town square. At least that is according to his brother who mentioned it on our towns petition page. I have to assume that information is correct because that’s the only way he would be subjected to it on a daily basis. But then again, if he wasn’t trying to cheat the system, he wouldn’t be visiting the town square everyday. Maybe someone was trying to tell him something and he took the message the wrong way.
Boycott the business he works for..another way for the public to act on their dislike of Mr Thompkins! The business owner will all too soon get the message too!
I think it’s a travesty when one person can dictate, what we can and cannot do as a majority. I thought this great country of ours was founded on Christianity. I am sick and tired of the ACLU putting their noses in where it doesn’t belong. WHAT A JERK! !!
It’s a wonderful thing. To defend the 1 st Amendment is a no brainer. The government should stay out of the religion business.
There is a HUGE jewish menorah right in front of the White House, where the president, every single year (since 2001), personally participate in the lighting up of the (electric) ‘candles’.
I find it very peculiar that nobody is bothered by this blatant religious symbol!
“The White House Hanukkah Party is an annual reception held at the White House and hosted by the U.S. President and First Lady to recognize and celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The tradition was established in 2001, during the administration of George W. Bush. The guest list includes hundreds of American Jewish politicians, organization heads, and school and yeshiva deans.”
Nicole…You And I Share The Same Feelings. Why ThIs Goes Unnoticed by The Christian Majority In America Is Beyond Me’? Perhaps…..? The Media In America Ignores Christian Bias In Favor Of Jewish Viewing”? Merry Christmas”!
The Jewish religion does not recognize Jesus as their savior instead the worship Mosses!
All that they can do is worship leaving Egypt!
How sad!
This is my opinion and I am untitled to that!
All that I can tell y’all is Don’t Mess With Texas!
No harm intended!
It seems that there is a very simple solution to Knightstown’s government owned property “CROSS” issue. Sell the patch of land that tree is on to the private citizens of Knightstown for a few dollars and then there can be no lawsuit. The city will still collect property taxes on this section of land with a tree on it and they could put those collected tax dollars in an account to grow into funds to fight lawsuits as stupid as this one. This country was founded on religious freedoms and if Muslims can pray in our White House every day then Christians must be allowed to say “Merry Christmas”! Christmas is a Christian holiday. I am not comfortable seeing Muslim’s bow to pray on TV and pictures of them doing so in a private room set up at our Nations’
White House. Perhaps, the ACLU should have to protect my First Amendment rights and I should file a law suit because the White House is a government owned building and they are now offending my rights. Just a thought.
If he is offended by a symbol to the point of emotional harm
he is unstable and should be committed for observation in a mental
hospital.
How sad is he!
1st Admenent “You have the right to do or say anything that you want as long as it doesn’t interfere with the rights of others”
Be it known that he will face God and explain his actions!
Get a grip a suck it up!
The reason is about Christ!
Duh get it Christ-Christmas!
Your county judge that is an elected official should earn his votes by just saying he won’t allow it into court and put the cross back up. The majority is sick of appeasing the onsies and twosies at their expense. Take your city back while it is small and easy or it will worsen…
Did his Mom have any sons who grew into men?