A small South carolina town committee refused too remove a Nativity scene from a market parking lot after the mayor ordered it taken down from public property.
Around Thanksgiving, Kimberly Byrd, head of the Mullins Beautification Committee in Mullins, South Carolina, said her small team decided to decorate the city’s new marketplace area for its first Christmas season “like a Hallmark movie,” hoping to draw more customers to the downtown area.
The group spent about two weeks placing decorations they paid for out of their own pockets, including a snowman, wreaths, lights, Santa claus and a small 3-by-4-foot Nativity scene. Byrd said she later received a text from Mayor Miko Pickett asking her to remove the Nativity scene, citing concerns about residents of other faiths and beliefs in the community.
Byrd said the mayor’s request stunned her.
“Our small town, we have a church on every corner,” Byrd told Fox News Digital. “It’s a faith-based community in the Bible Belt. I’ve been here 53 years of my life and never heard of anything like this happening here.”
Byrd said she received support from some city council members to keep the display in place and decided to take a stand by vowing to keep the Nativity scene where it was.
“Christ is why we celebrate Christmas,” byrd said. “I really thought she would probably change her mind or come back and say, ‘I’m sorry, I made a mistake. Let’s have a meeting about this,’ but nothing.”
In a statement posted to Facebook on Nov. 26, Pickett said she asked only that the Nativity scene be removed from the public parking area, arguing that a religious symbol on public
South Carolina Town’s Nativity Scene Features… a Dinosaur?
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MULLINS, SC – A South Carolina town is sparking conversation this Christmas season with a rather prehistoric addition to its annual nativity scene.
The display in Mullins, a small town in Marion County, features the traditional figures of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus – but alongside them stands a surprisingly out-of-place dinosaur.
Photos of the unusual scene quickly went viral,prompting a flurry of reactions online. Some are amused by the quirky addition, while others question the theological implications of a dinosaur at the birthplace of Christ.
“It’s just a little bit of fun,” Mayor Will Cox told local news outlets. “We wanted to do something different this year and get people talking.”
The dinosaur, a green Brachiosaurus, was reportedly added by a local resident who helps set up the display each year. Cox explained that the resident believes dinosaurs co-existed with humans, and wanted to incorporate that belief into the nativity scene.
“It’s a conversation starter, and that’s what we wanted,” Cox said. “We’re not trying to offend anyone, we just want people to come out and enjoy the Christmas spirit.”
The display has certainly achieved its goal, drawing visitors from surrounding areas and generating buzz on social media. Whether you see it as a playful twist or a theological head-scratcher,the dinosaur nativity is undoubtedly a unique addition to the holiday season.
Nativity Scene Defender Honored for Standing Up for Religious Expression
Kimberly Byrd, a resident who advocated for keeping a Nativity scene on public display, has been awarded the 2025 “Tiny Tim Toast” award by Becket, a religious liberty law firm.This recognition highlights a continuing debate over the balance between the separation of church and state and the public expression of religious beliefs, notably during the holiday season.
The Legal Foundation for Public Displays
The display of religious symbols on public property is a complex legal issue in the United States. The debate frequently enough centers around the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. Though, the Supreme Court has addressed this issue in several cases, establishing guidelines for permissible displays.
A key ruling came in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984), where the Court allowed Nativity scenes to be displayed as part of a broader, secular holiday display.This ruling established that the government’s display of a Nativity scene with other holiday symbols does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of religion. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/465us668
Byrd’s stand and Becket’s Recognition
Byrd’s actions stemmed from a situation where the Nativity scene faced potential removal. She publicly voiced her support for keeping the display up, arguing it brought joy to the community and shouldn’t be a problem. “Yes, I’d like for it to stay until the season’s over with,” Byrd said. “Kids pass here, people come through to see it, so it’s OK. It should not be a problem for it staying up.”
Becket, a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting religious freedom, recognized Byrd’s advocacy with its “Tiny Tim Toast” award, named after the character from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol who embodies the spirit of generosity and goodwill.
“In the face of increasing government efforts to scrub religion from public life, we should all strive to be like Kimberly Byrd,” said Mark Rienzi, president of Becket. “Her courage to stand up for the Nativity scene was admirable and patriotic. We’re happy to raise a hearty toast to Kimberly and others like her who have kept the faith and brought a little more joy to this holiday season.” https://www.becketlaw.org/news/becket-awards-tiny-tim-toast-to-kimberly-byrd-for-defending-nativity-scene/
Ongoing debates and Future Considerations
Byrd’s case reflects a broader trend of challenges to religious displays in public spaces. While the Lynch v. Donnelly ruling provides a framework for permissible displays, disputes continue to arise, frequently enough requiring legal intervention. These cases frequently involve balancing the rights of individuals to practice their religion freely with the constitutional requirement of government neutrality toward religion.
As communities continue to navigate these issues, the importance of understanding the legal precedents and engaging in respectful dialogue remains paramount.
Key Takeaways:
* The Supreme Court has ruled that nativity scenes can be displayed on public property as part of a broader holiday display.
* Kimberly Byrd was honored by Becket for her advocacy in keeping a Nativity scene on public display.
* The debate over religious expression in public spaces continues, requiring careful consideration of constitutional principles and community values.