UHP group joins fight against cross suit

A federal judge has allowed the Utah Highway Patrol Association to join the fight against a suit filed by an atheist group asking a court to take down crosses memorializing fallen state troopers.

U.S. District Judge David Sam found this month that the UHPA "presented a compelling argument" in wanting to join the suit.

Last December, American Atheists Inc. sued the state, Utah Highway Patrol and the Utah Department of Transportation, claiming the installation of some 13 12-foot-tall white crosses along various highways violated separation of church and state. The group claims the crosses are a religious symbol of Christianity and do not belong on public property. The group is seeking a court order, compelling the state to replace the crosses with a more secular symbol.

Officials with UHPA say they are the ones who erected the crosses, beginning in 1998, to offer as a reminder to motorists of the sacrifice troopers make in protecting the public's safety. They contend the symbol of the cross is also considered an international symbol of memorializing the fallen.

The suit has sparked strong feelings among supporters of UHP troopers and has prompted debate about whether the crosses are appropriate.

The Utah Legislature passed a resolution in support of the memorials and attempted to pass a bill that would allow a religious or secular symbol to be used on public land to honor a person who died in combat or in the line of duty. HB330 did not make it out of the House before the end of the session.

Sam did note that American Atheists Inc. did not seem to put up much of a fight in allowing UHPA into the suit. "Despite being given an opportunity to effectively oppose UHPA's motion, plaintiff's opposition is merely a restatement of their factual allegations," Sam wrote.

Attorney Brian Barnard, who represents the atheist group, said he expected the group would likely be allowed to join in the suit.

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