'God Bless America' Removed From City Buses

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An e-mail complaint has prompted the Beaumont Public Works Director to order the phrase 'God bless America' removed from electronic message signs on city buses, and the decision angers a number of riders.

Warner told KFDM News he made the decision earlier this week.

He said the complaint raised questions about whether the message violates the Constitution because the transit system receives federal dollars, as well as state and local money.

Jennifer Heathcock reports,

The Beaumont Public Works Director says questions about the separation of church and state have prompted him to order the phrase 'God bless America' removed from the electronic message boards on city buses.

Tom Warner says someone e-mailed a complaint, and earlier this week he had 'God bless America' removed from the signs.

Bus riders aren't happy about the decision.

When a bus pulls into the Dannenbaum Station in Beaumont, one of the first things riders look for is their destination on the electronic sign.

But there's one phrase that won't be scrolling across these screens - 'God bless America.'

"He felt like it was an aberration of the Constitution for separation of church and state," says Tom Warner, the Public Works Director.

He made the decision to remove the phrase from all of the bus marquees Tuesday after receiving an e-mail from one person who found it offensive.

"Ain't nothing wrong with saying 'God bless America.'  I'm a World War II vet and I don't find anything wrong with it," says Otis Jackson, who is upset with the decision.

While the courts can provide some direction on whether the message is appropriate, Warner said he couldn't wait because it's only one of many issues he has to deal with in city government.

"It's a fine line, a lose - lose situation, because 50 percent of the people don't want it and 50 percent do want it," says Warner.

"If a believer wants to put thank God or Jesus on their bus sticker, then I don't see anything wrong with it," says Gwendolyn Jackson, who supports the phrase on the buses.

And not only that, riders point to the phrase 'In God We Trust' printed on our currency.

"It's been on money ever since it was made here," says Jackson.

Even the City Attorney says 'God bless America' on the bus sign doesn't violate the Constitution because the transit system isn't promoting any one religion.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the time, we hear from people that don't want it rather than the ones that do," says Warner.

He says there's no guarantee the phrase is gone for good.

Passengers will keep riding the bus, waiting to see if the phrase comes back.

We contacted the Port Arthur Transit Director.

He told us 'God bless America' hasn't been displayed on city buses there.

But for the past 11 years the city has displayed religious holiday messages, including Merry Christmas and Happy Easter.

He says they've never had any complaints.