Texas City Leaders Vote To Pull "Jesus" Sign
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HAWKINS (AP) - Leaders of an East Texas town facing a possible legal challenge have decided to remove a sign that says "Jesus Welcomes You To Hawkins."
The Hawkins City Council on Monday voted to take down the sign along Highway 80.
The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation says the sign, believed to be on city property, is unconstitutional and demanded it be removed. Critics say the sign violates separation of church and state.
Mayor Will Rogers says there's a continuing deed dispute about whether the property belongs to the city or a business.
Students in a shop class made the sign that's been displayed since 2011 in Hawkins, a town of about 1,300 located 95 miles southeast of Dallas.
The sign was erected at the request of Rogers before he became mayor.
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