Hundreds of Elwood City residents turned out to counter-protest radical atheists who threatened to remove the city’s Nativity scene. There were so many counter-protesters that the city was forced to shut down the street.
The Ellwood Nativity supporters spontaneously started singing Christmas carols outside the courthouse. (Times Online)
Nativity Scene Fight via WFMJ
The atheists said the city could display the Nativity if they agreed to hang an anti-Christmas banner.
WPXI reported:
The controversy continues over a nativity scene and Christmas decorations in Ellwood City.
The nativity scene and decorations have gone up for the past 50 years without any problems, but this year is different.
A group, Freedom from Religion, is challenging the display, saying it’s unconstitutional.
Now, the group doesn’t want the nativity scene taken down. It wants Ellwood City to add a banner that states the group’s beliefs.
“No way on my watch is it going up. It’s offensive,” said Ellwood City Mayor Tony Court.
Channel 11 got a hold of the wording on the banner. It reads:
“At this season of the winter solstice, may reason prevail. There are no Gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Ellwood City residents are upset.
“That’s sick. They better not put it up. It will come right back down,” said Mike Mitchell from Ellwood City.
Hat Tip Ann
