Politics & Government
Morton Grove Park District Returns Atheist's Check
An atheist group had raised the money in support of a park district commissioner who refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The park district said it didn't want to get in the middle of that dispute.
The Morton Grove Park District has declined a $3,000 donation from the publisher of the FriendlyAtheist.com blog and other atheist donors, according to TribLocal.
Hemant Mehta, the atheist blogger, put out a call to his readers for donations in support of Morton Grove Park District Commissioner Dan Ashta, who took office in April, and who refuses to stand or recite during the Pledge of Allegiance, which is recited at all park district board meetings.
The Morton Grove American Legion withdrew its customary $2,600 donation in support of park district programming because members were disappointed at Ashta's refusal to at least stand while the pledge is recited.
Earlier: Atheist Raises Funds, Which American Legion Yanked, For Morton Grove Park District
In the latest development, Park District Executive Director Tracey Anderson said board members, not including Ashta, expressed the view that Mehta's donation was not intended for general park district programming, according to TribLocal, and consequently the district is going to return his check.
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