SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The mayor of Sioux Falls says the South Dakota city won’t paint over religious messages that parochial school students put on city-owned snow plow blades unless it is legally forced to do so.

Mayor Mike Huether told KELO radio that the city is holding firm in its position unless “some Supreme Court case says that I have to.”

Students at Lutheran High School and Sioux Falls Lutheran School painted the plow blades as part of the city’s Paint the Plows program. One blade includes the words “Jesus Christ” and the other says “Happy Birthday Jesus.”

The Siouxland Freethinkers complained to the city, saying the religious artwork on publicly owned vehicles violates separation of church and state.

Lutheran High School Principal Derek Bult told the Argus Leader that he was contacted by a city official last week and told to have students repaint the plow blades, or city staffers would. Bult said he was so pleased with the mayor’s comments Tuesday that he organized an afternoon assembly to surprise students.

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