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County Supervisor Wants Old Seal with Religious Symbolism
Old Seal (Left), New Seal (Right)
Back in 2004, the big controversy at the Los Angeles County level was over their official seal, which donned a graphic of a small cross behind set behind the Hollywood Bowl. The ACLU threatened to sue, the county backed down and spent $700,000 replacing the seal. Now that the cross is back atop the San Gabriel Mission after a restoration project, 5th District Supervisor Michael Antonovich, who voted against the move, wants it back."States like New Mexico and municipalities throughout the country have crosses on their seals, so it would not violate the Constitution because it represents a historical fact," Antonovich said, via the Daily News. "I don't know when it will happen, but whether it happens this year, next year or five years from now, I know it will reflect the historical significance of the county."
That historical significance is the fact that the mission's location is the site where what became LA County was founded in 1771 by Spanish missionaries, according to the paper.
County board meetings don't bring out the public in droves too often, but his issue certainly packed the room a few years ago. Get ready for a religulous battle.
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