Florists refuse deliveries to Ahlquist

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - There's more controversy for the 16-year-old Cranston teen at the middle of her school's prayer banner battle.

A Wisconsin-based group, called "The Freedom from Religion Foundation", wanted to send Jessica Ahlquist a dozen roses.

They wanted to recognize the atheist's fight to remove the decades-old prayer banner from Cranston High School West.

• Read more: Clock ticking on prayer banner appeal

But, at least three local florists have refused to deliver the flowers to Ahlquist.

"We chose not to make the delivery because first of all, most important it's our belief system," said Claudia Colardo-Santilli.

Some customers support the florist saying they made the right decision. Others disagree and left threatening messages full of obcene language.

"I have the right to refuse any order I choose to, and I did," said one florist.

Eyewitness News has learned that a florist in Putnam, Conn., has agreed to make the delivery.

In the meantime, the religion foundation says they plan to file a human rights complaint against the other stores.

The Cranston school committee has six weeks to decide if they'll appeal a ruling that the prayer banner must come down.

A federal judge ruled last week that the prayer banner must be removed as it is a violation of the separation of church and state.