Representatives of the Archdiocese of Washington and the ACLU tell Mark Segraves why they disagree with Metro’s refusal to sell space for Christmas ads on buses.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., sided with transportation officials Tuesday in a dispute about Metro's decision to reject a bus ad from the Roman Catholic Church.
The Archdiocese of Washington sued in 2017 after Metro rejected an ad for its Christmas fundraising effort, which showed a biblical scene. The ad design showed shepherds and sheep, as in a classic Nativity scene, with the words "Find the Perfect Gift."
The archdiocese argued Metro's decision violated the First Amendment. Metro pointed to its blanket policy of refusing to accept issue-oriented ads including political, religious and advocacy ads. Metro enacted the policy in 2015.
A lower federal court judge also sided with Metro. The Trump administration supported the archdiocese.
Metro barred political and religious advertising after an activist group submitted a cartoon depiction of the Prophet Muhammad to run as an ad at Metrorail stations and on buses.
The same group hosted a contest to draw Muhammad in May 2015 in Texas. Two gunmen opened fire on an security officer there and then were killed.
