The debate over religious expression on public property in downtown Mobile is heating up again, with several community groups preparing to ask the Mobile County Commission to let them install their own privately funded plaques at Government Plaza.
The push follows a commission vote earlier this summer that approved a privately funded plaque reading “In God We Trust” for display in the public building. That 2-1 decision drew criticism from residents who argued the county should not favor one religious viewpoint over others in a space used by the entire public.
Now, groups representing different beliefs say if one message of faith is allowed, theirs should be too. Organizers with a local atheist community group say they intend to ask commissioners for a plaque reading “In Reason We Trust,” framing it as a secular counterpart to the existing display. A Universalist-aligned group is expected to request a sign with the word “Coexist,” a symbol often used to promote religious tolerance. Meanwhile, a Pagan advocacy group plans to seek approval for wording along the lines of “In Goddess/es We Trust,” reflecting polytheistic and earth-based spiritual traditions.
Each proposal would reportedly be funded privately, following the same model used to install the original plaque, meaning no taxpayer money would be spent regardless of which, if any, additional displays are approved.
Speakers on multiple sides of the issue are expected to address commissioners directly at a regularly scheduled meeting in the multipurpose room at Government Plaza. Public comment periods at county commission meetings have become a flashpoint in recent months as residents from different backgrounds weigh in on how much religious messaging belongs in government spaces.
Adding another layer to the dispute, an online petition has been circulating asking the commission to reverse its original decision and remove the “In God We Trust” plaque altogether, rather than opening the door to additional religious or secular displays. Petition organizers argue that allowing a rotating cast of plaques representing different belief systems could turn the plaza into an ongoing point of contention rather than resolving the underlying church-and-state question.
County commissioners have not indicated how they plan to handle the new requests, and it remains unclear whether any additional plaques will receive the same 2-1 approval that cleared the way for the first display. For now, the Government Plaza building continues to serve as the focal point of a broader conversation in Mobile County about religious symbolism, free expression and the boundaries of public space.
Residents interested in the outcome are encouraged to follow future commission meeting agendas, as the issue is expected to resurface as more groups formalize their requests.