Alabama Town Forced to Drop Christmas Parade Theme After Atheists Complain
A small town in Alabama is receiving complaints from a national atheist group for its upcoming Christmas parade.
The small town of Piedmont, Alabama recently agreed to name the theme of its upcoming Christmas parade "Keep Christ in Christmas," and as a result recently received a letter from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The letter, dated November 24, argues that the theme of the small southern town's parade "poses serious constitutional separation of church and state concerns."
"[…] it is illegal and inappropriate for the city to be hosting, organizing, supporting, or otherwise promoting an event that advocates observing Christianity and praying," the letter adds.
Bill Baker, the mayor of Piedmont, told Fox News that when he and other city officials first came up with their theme, they didn't see any issue as they are a very small town with a large population of Christian inhabitants.
"It was a great theme," the mayor said. "I was totally shocked when I received the letter. It's a small town. It's a small Christmas parade. We didn't think there would be any problems at all."
Baker added to Fox News that "it annoys me that a small group of people can do what they do and get away with it and the majority has to suffer."
"They are infringing on my beliefs," the mayor added.
According to The Blaze, the town was forced to drop its theme for its parade following the atheist complaint. Although the town had to officially drop its theme, many resident still marched with signs that read "Keep Christ in Christmas," while one man even dressed up as Jesus on the day of the event to protest the atheist complaint.
