A Louisiana sheriff says that he is not going to cancel a planned public prayer event even if the ACLU is objecting to the event as unconstitutional.

Sheriff Julian Whittington of Bossier Parish, Louisiana is hosting the second annual “In God We Trust” rally on the Fourth of July.  The event will include food, games, prayer and what the Sheriff termed “patriotic and God-lifting music.”  The event is taking place on the grounds of a sheriff’s substation in Bossier, property that is owned by the city.

The ACLU is complaining that the existence of the event on the city property means they’re violating church and state and the event needs to be shut down no matter how much of a benefit it is to the city.

Sheriff Whittington said he’s not the least bit concerned about the ACLU.

“Not only am I elected to serve the people of Bossier Parish, but I live here and my family lives here. I think Bossier Parish is a better place with Christianity and Christian values involved in it,” Whittington told the Shreveport Times.  “I don’t work for anybody in Washington. What they do, what they say, I couldn’t really care less.”

The ACLU says the event is telling non-Christian residents of the area that “they are less than equal and not worthy of support by their sheriff” even though Sheriff Whittington has not made any statements nor taken any actions that back up the ACLU’s assertion.