SONS: Save Our Nativity Scenes

This cherished Santa Monica Christmas tradition in Palisades Park is under attack by a militant out-of-town atheist and a few followers, who exploited new rules to win nearly all display space in 2011 but left half of it empty to prevent the Nativity Scenes from occupying it.

The ensuing controversy led city staff to suggest banning all December displays from the park starting in 2012. Thus the Nativity Scenes display is threatened with loss of its home of nearly 60 years, which could end the display as we know it.  Its fate is scheduled for a vote at a Santa Monica City Council meeting May 22, 2012.

You can help now to save the Scenes.

The nonprofit Nativity Scenes Committee submitted a constitutionally sound, fair-minded proposal to City Council members and city officials on May 8 that would enable preservation of the Nativity Scenes and the traditional Hanukkah menorah display in Palisades Park. The “Celebrate the Season” proposal would focus all displays on celebrating December holidays – whether Christmas, Hanukkah, the winter solstice, or others -- and avoid denigration of any holiday tradition.

Please visit the S.O.N.S. page or click here for a press release summary of the Celebrate the Season proposal and for the full text.

Also on the S.O.N.S. page, you can find phone numbers and e-mail addresses of City Council members and other city officials. Before the City Council meeting May 22, please voice your support to them for keeping the Scenes in Palisades Park. An online petition is also available for signing.