Two non-Jewish taxpayers indicated today through their attorney that they were dropping a suit to bar Dade county officials from erecting a cross on the County Courthouse during the Christmas season.
Robert Kaufman, the attorney for the unnamed litigants said he did not “anticipate any litigation” at this time. He said his clients, whom he characterized as “Gentile nonbelievers,” decided not to file suit after the announcement of intention to do so touched off a public storm.
Mr. Kaufman, a Presbyterian, said that “ill-timing” may have confused the legal issues involved. He said that issue was stated in Section 6 of the Declaration of Rights in the Florida Constitution. Under that section, he said, if one sect has tax funds placed at its disposal to erect a religious symbol, then every other sect, regardless of size, would be entitled to equal treatment.
Newspaper columns and articles, as well as radio opinion programs, on the issue all jumped to the conclusion that both the attorney and the litigants were Jewish. The attorney added that his clients hoped eventually to meet with representatives of the Greater Miami Council of Churches to explain their position.
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