Cranston West prayer banner removed

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - For the first time in decades, a prayer banner does not adorn the walls at Cranston High School West.

After a long, intense legal battle, the mural was removed over the weekend, the American Civil Liberties Union confirmed Monday afternoon.

"The ACLU has been apprised that, in accordance with Judge Lagueux’s decision, the prayer mural has been permanently removed from Cranston High School West, and on that basis we have agreed to give the defendants a further extension of time, until March 19th, on the issue of attorneys’ fees," said Rhode Island ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of atheist student Jessica Ahlquist, who said the prayer banner violated her Constitutional rights.

The organization sent the city a $173,000 bill for legal fees following a federal judge's ruling that the banner be removed from the wall's of the school auditorium.

Before a crowd of 700 people, the Cranston School Committee last month voted not to appeal a federal judge's ruling - ordering the banner be removed from the wall of the school's auditorium. The legal fees were the deciding factor for many of the members.

"We now look forward to resolving that issue as well in the very near future so that this case can be officially closed," Brown said.