Overview

• Norfolk County Superior Court Judge William F. Sullivan granted a preliminary injunction on Oct. 14, temporarily blocking installation of two 10-foot bronze statues of Saints Michael and Florian at Quincy’s new public safety building.
• He also denied the city’s motion to dismiss, allowing the residents’ constitutional lawsuit to proceed.
• Plaintiffs represented by the ACLU of Massachusetts argue the statues violate the state constitution’s Article 3 by elevating one religion over others.
• The ruling notes concerns that people seeking police or fire assistance could view the figures as religious endorsements and as a signal of who might be favored by officials inside.
• Mayor Thomas Koch, who commissioned the $850,000 statues in 2023 with city funds, says they honor first responders and plans to appeal; police and firefighters’ unions back the city, and the Italy-sculpted works expected by late October are now covered by the court order.