It seems a lot of people feel when the nativity scene was yanked from the Luzerne County courthouse they also took away the reason for the season.
Nearly two dozen people protested Friday upset that the manger is gone from public property.
With Christmas just a week away and in the midst of Hanukkah, members of the community came out to show their spirit of the season.
Nearly two dozen people came out to protest the removal of the manger scene and menorah from the front lawn of the Luzerne County courthouse.
The traditional display was removed by the county because of a complaint of having religious symbols of government property.
"It's really evoked a feeling of saddness, to see that a small group of minorities can come in and take away the rights that christians and Jewish people have had for thousands of years," said Debbie Lansberry of Lehman.
Justin Vacula, a student at Kings College made the complaint about the display to the American Civil Liberties Union. He said he wants to see all religions celebrated in a seasonal display.
"Tradition doesn't really matter. What matters is the law. If they wanted to do a neutral message that would have been fine but that wasn't, in fact, what they did," Vacula said.
Cathy Mack, who organized the protest, strongly disagrees.
"And to think that he is doing all of this and he says next year he wants to just put up snowmen and candy canes or whatever. It's ridiculous, and I can't believe it," Mack said.
County Commissioner Steve Urban said the courthouse display has always allowed for equal representation. "I've been a commissioner here in Luzerne County for 10 years and we have always had a traditional holiday display. That display included secular and non-secular displays of Christmas," said Urban.
He and Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla have been working with several lawyers who have lent their support in an effort to meet the requests of the ACLU in the hopes of getting the display back up on the property.
If all goes according to plan, Urban expects the display back up on the grounds by Monday.
Nearly two dozen people protested Friday upset that the manger is gone from public property.
With Christmas just a week away and in the midst of Hanukkah, members of the community came out to show their spirit of the season.
Nearly two dozen people came out to protest the removal of the manger scene and menorah from the front lawn of the Luzerne County courthouse.
The traditional display was removed by the county because of a complaint of having religious symbols of government property.
"It's really evoked a feeling of saddness, to see that a small group of minorities can come in and take away the rights that christians and Jewish people have had for thousands of years," said Debbie Lansberry of Lehman.
Justin Vacula, a student at Kings College made the complaint about the display to the American Civil Liberties Union. He said he wants to see all religions celebrated in a seasonal display.
"Tradition doesn't really matter. What matters is the law. If they wanted to do a neutral message that would have been fine but that wasn't, in fact, what they did," Vacula said.
Cathy Mack, who organized the protest, strongly disagrees.
"And to think that he is doing all of this and he says next year he wants to just put up snowmen and candy canes or whatever. It's ridiculous, and I can't believe it," Mack said.
County Commissioner Steve Urban said the courthouse display has always allowed for equal representation. "I've been a commissioner here in Luzerne County for 10 years and we have always had a traditional holiday display. That display included secular and non-secular displays of Christmas," said Urban.
He and Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla have been working with several lawyers who have lent their support in an effort to meet the requests of the ACLU in the hopes of getting the display back up on the property.
If all goes according to plan, Urban expects the display back up on the grounds by Monday.
