DANVILLE, Va. (AP)- Civil liberties lawyers say they are suing the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to halt what they say is the unconstitutional practice of opening meetings with a Christian prayer.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia says the lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Danville on behalf of an anonymous plaintiff.
The county attorney, J. Vaden Hunt, was not immediately available for comment.
The ACLU said the prayer violates the First Amendment. It is asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction to halt the prayers while the lawsuit moves forward.
The ACLU said it filed the lawsuit on behalf of a resident who has attended the board's meetings for the past three years and objects to the prayers.
