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Mullins Volunteers Defy Mayor to Keep Nativity at City Market

The small, privately funded Nativity sits within a mixed holiday display, drawing support from religious‑liberty advocates.

Overview

  • As of Dec. 21, the scene remained on the Mullins marketplace property with no reported enforcement action from the mayor’s office.
  • Mayor Miko Pickett asked in a Nov. 26 Facebook post that the Nativity be removed from the public parking area, citing separation of church and state.
  • Beautification Committee chair Kimberly Byrd refused the request and said she would remove all other decorations if the Nativity were taken down.
  • The display includes a 3-by-4-foot Nativity among wreaths, lights, a snowman and Santa, all installed by volunteers using private funds.
  • Religious-liberty firm Becket praised Byrd and gave her its 2025 Tiny Tim Toast award, as coverage cited Lynch v. Donnelly on mixed holiday displays.