chanel
Silver Member
Santa Monica has hosted nativity scenes in Palisades Park for 60 years. Beginning in 1953, a coalition of 13 churches joined a local police organization to put up nativity displays. The displays consisted of more than a dozen scenes from the birth of Jesus as depicted in the Gospels created out of sets and using mannequins dressed in period costumes.
But in the last few years atheist groups have challenged the practice and demanded space for their own displays. Last year, the display area was divided up into small display spaces and split up among dozens of applicants. The coalition of churches which had been using the park got just three of the spaces, meaning the majority of their display remained in storage. One space went to a Jewish group and two to other churches. Eighteen of the spaces went to atheists groups.
Now Santa Monica has simply put an end to the displays altogether. .
Atheists Win: Santa Monica City Council Votes to End Religious Displays
No "War on Christmas"?