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CNN Live Sunday

Speaking Freely

Aired October 05, 2003 - 10:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Free speech or political correctness? Who would have thought that a children's playground near a Seattle neighborhood would have created such critical issues for a federal court. CNN's Kimberly Osias has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 10-year-old Nadia Peterson says this playground has it all.

NADIA PETERSON, CHILD WHO USES PLAYGROUND: Swings, balance beams, tunnels.

OSIAS: But that equipment came with a $250,000 price tag. With under-funded Washington state parks, the community had to be creative if they wanted a top-notch park.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody, you know, sweat and just put this together for the community.

OSIAS: Donations came from people who bought wooden planks in the fencing and bricks in the pavement.

(on camera): The Buchanans bought a brick, too. They paid $100 to have, "Thank you Jesus, Daria and Evan Buchanan" inscribed. Their message was edited to remove the name Jesus. Now they're suing, saying their religious speech is being targeted.

STUART ROTH, AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE: We're suing because an important constitutional principle's at stake.

OSIAS: Their goal? To get the brick put in the playground as originally inscribed. The Buchanans' suit asks for attorneys' fees and only $1 in damages.

ROTH: They cannot invite the community to participate in expressive activities, yet censor that expression solely because it's religious in nature.

OSIAS: Bricks bearing sentiments were allowed. But park organizers say one inscribed "God loves children" was laid in error. Law professor Walter Walsh says the group's mistake was not being even-handed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You really have to be very careful to set the rules up in advance. OSIAS: Numerous calls to playground organizers for a response to this story have gone unreturned. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission says it was not involved in the fund-raising project. The case now goes before a federal judge.

Kimberly Osias, CNN, Seattle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 5, 2003 - 10:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Free speech or political correctness? Who would have thought that a children's playground near a Seattle neighborhood would have created such critical issues for a federal court. CNN's Kimberly Osias has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 10-year-old Nadia Peterson says this playground has it all.

NADIA PETERSON, CHILD WHO USES PLAYGROUND: Swings, balance beams, tunnels.

OSIAS: But that equipment came with a $250,000 price tag. With under-funded Washington state parks, the community had to be creative if they wanted a top-notch park.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody, you know, sweat and just put this together for the community.

OSIAS: Donations came from people who bought wooden planks in the fencing and bricks in the pavement.

(on camera): The Buchanans bought a brick, too. They paid $100 to have, "Thank you Jesus, Daria and Evan Buchanan" inscribed. Their message was edited to remove the name Jesus. Now they're suing, saying their religious speech is being targeted.

STUART ROTH, AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE: We're suing because an important constitutional principle's at stake.

OSIAS: Their goal? To get the brick put in the playground as originally inscribed. The Buchanans' suit asks for attorneys' fees and only $1 in damages.

ROTH: They cannot invite the community to participate in expressive activities, yet censor that expression solely because it's religious in nature.

OSIAS: Bricks bearing sentiments were allowed. But park organizers say one inscribed "God loves children" was laid in error. Law professor Walter Walsh says the group's mistake was not being even-handed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You really have to be very careful to set the rules up in advance. OSIAS: Numerous calls to playground organizers for a response to this story have gone unreturned. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission says it was not involved in the fund-raising project. The case now goes before a federal judge.

Kimberly Osias, CNN, Seattle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com