A Rutherford Institute June 1997 press release
The Rutherford Institute Settles Aubrey Case With Cincinnati
Reds
Cincinnati - Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute assisted Reverend
Guy Aubrey in reaching a final settlement with the Cincinnati Reds baseball
organization over their refusal to allow him to display a religious sign.
On June 5, U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Speigel entered an order dismissing
the case as settled after the Reds, the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton
County paid to $20,000 to settle the case. Instead of keeping the money
for his own personal use, Aubrey donated his part of the settlement to a
church in Chichuahua, Mexico to buy land for a new sanctuary.
The case began on October 17, 1990 when Aubrey of Cleveland, Tenn., attempted
to display a "John 3:16" banner during Game Two of the 1990 World
Series between the Reds and the Oakland Athletics. Aubrey was told his sign
was against Major League Baseball policy and was escorted out of Riverfront
Stadium. The U.S. District Court ruled that the Reds' policy of banning
religious banners was vague and overbroad.
The Reds than changed their policy to permit only "baseball related"
signs in 1993. Rev. Aubrey then brought a sign that read "Go Reds-John
3:16" to fit the regulations, but he was again thrown out. United States
District Court Judge Speigel declared this policy unconstitutional. After
initially banning all noncommercial signs and banners, the Reds rewrote
their policy to permit fan signs without discrimination.
"This brings to a conclusion a several year battle with the City of
Cincinnati and the Reds," said Jim Knicely, one of The Rutherford Institute
affiliate attorneys who handled the case, "to treat signs with a religious
message on the same basis as any other message at the stadium."
The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties
organization specializing in the defense of religious liberty.
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Phone(804) 978-3888 Facsimile (804) 978-1799
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