Opinion ID: 550350
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 Every Christmas season the City of Chicago decorates O'Hare facilities with Christmas trees and other traditional Christmas decorations, but the City intentionally excludes religious symbols from unleased public areas. On the other hand, private lessees may display religious symbols in their own Christmas exhibits in their leased areas, but City regulations prohibit structures from being erected in public areas, since the City has determined that displays in these areas might impede pedestrian traffic. The City provides for a broad variety of alternative methods of communicating messages, including a non-denominational chapel that is available to religious as well as non-religious groups. In addition, anyone can distribute leaflets or carry hand-held symbols (such as Chanukah menorahs) or signs in designated public areas within the confines of the airport area where such activities do not interfere with the free movement of pedestrian traffic. 3 In 1987 Lubavitch attempted to persuade the City of Chicago to allow it to display a free-standing Chanukah menorah 2 in one of the public areas of O'Hare during the Christmas season. Upon the City's refusal to allow the Chanukah display, Lubavitch initiated this litigation to enjoin the City from enforcing its regulations. Lubavitch contends that the City of Chicago's refusal to allow the display of a free-standing Chanukah menorah in a public area of O'Hare while the City has a Christmas display constitutes religious discrimination and a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution Fourteenth Amendment. Lubavitch argues that the Christmas trees in the City's display represent Christianity. In addition, Lubavitch asserts that the City's regulations are unconstitutionally overbroad in that they fail to distinguish between high-traffic areas that require unimpeded access and low-traffic areas where the governmental interest in controlling structures is less compelling.