Mullins, South Carolina Mayor Bah Humbug Over Nativity Display

South Carolina officials clash over public nativity scene display

Things got a little less peaceful in Mullins, South Carolina, this holiday season, and not because the reindeer ran off with Santa’s sleigh.

The town saw an unexpected controversy erupt when the head of its Beautification Committee defied the mayor’s request to remove a Nativity scene from a public space, sparking a debate over religious expression and municipal authority, as Breitbart reports.

The showdown began just after Thanksgiving, when Kimberly Byrd and her committee dressed up the town’s new marketplace for Christmas in a classic, small-town style — all on their own dime.

Part of Byrd’s festive setup included a Nativity scene placed in the public parking area near the decorated market. That decision quickly drew scrutiny from Mayor Miko Pickett, who claimed the religious imagery on government-controlled property could alienate some community members and possibly cross legal lines.

Court Precedent Could Favor Local Tradition.

While Mayor Pickett is likely trying to keep the city in legal clear waters, the 1984 Supreme Court case Lynch v. Donnelly offers some helpful context.

That case found that including a Nativity in an overall Christmas display on public property was not a violation of the Establishment Clause — as long as it was part of a broader, secular holiday theme.

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