City To Pay Christian Group Banned From Holiday Fest
October 23, 2006

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- The city has agreed to pay $31,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a pre-teen Christian dance troupe kicked out of the Holiday Festival last December because of their religious message.

Chula Vista also agreed to provide to police officers and city officials annual First Amendment training "with emphasis on the rights of religious persons to express their faith in the public square."

A hearing to approve the settlement is scheduled for Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Diego, though officials say the judge's approval is a formality. the rest