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latimes: In Santa Monica, battle over Christmas displays takes a new twist: Atheists win a majority of exhibit spots in a city park, displacing most of the traditional Nativity scene, as the nation’s annual tussle over religious displays on public land heats up. Atheist groups objected to churches’ use of the public Palisades Park to espouse a religious message and applied to the city of Santa Monica for their own spaces. To keep it fair and legal, officials in the famously liberal city turned to a lottery to dole out spots in the prime location along Ocean Avenue. The atheists turned out to be the lucky ones: Of the 21 plots in the park open for displays, they won 18. A Jewish group that sets up a menorah won another. Photo: Vikki Hill protests in front of an atheist group’s display in a spot formerly occupied by Nativity scenes in Santa Monica’s Palisades Park. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

latimes:

In Santa Monica, battle over Christmas displays takes a new twist: Atheists win a majority of exhibit spots in a city park, displacing most of the traditional Nativity scene, as the nation’s annual tussle over religious displays on public land heats up.

Atheist groups objected to churches’ use of the public Palisades Park to espouse a religious message and applied to the city of Santa Monica for their own spaces.

To keep it fair and legal, officials in the famously liberal city turned to a lottery to dole out spots in the prime location along Ocean Avenue.

The atheists turned out to be the lucky ones: Of the 21 plots in the park open for displays, they won 18. A Jewish group that sets up a menorah won another.

Photo: Vikki Hill protests in front of an atheist group’s display in a spot formerly occupied by Nativity scenes in Santa Monica’s Palisades Park. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

2 months ago on December 17, 2011 at 04:22am
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via Los Angeles Times
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  11. puffvick reblogged this from latimes and added:
    I was there on Monday I was wondering what it was all about.
  12. michellesmith reblogged this from latimes and added:
    This is really upsetting. I mean, it’s the fucking holidays! These people just want to put up Menorah’s and small...
  13. timemakesfoolsofusall reblogged this from thetacotruck and added:
    I’m not even remotely religious, but this is really not okay…I don’t care what you believe, no one is more ‘right’ than...
  14. documentmanagementau said: I really enjoy reading this have a good deal of Top post.
  15. angelawublog reblogged this from latimes
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  18. anunreliablenarrator said: I’m Catholic, but I don’t set up displays that are against Allah or Buddah… it’s just disrespectful. I know not all atheists are like this, though
  19. discopunk77 reblogged this from latimes