The erection of a pentagram display next to a Nativity scene in Boca Raton, Florida has sparked outrage in the community and a rebuke from the town’s mayor.
WPTV.com is reporting on the controversy which began when Preston Smith, a man who regularly pushes for freedom from religion, sought a permit to erect a display in Sanborn Square off Federal Highway. The city was forced to grant the permit under free speech laws.
Smith erected a large red pentagram and the Freedom from Religion Foundation provided him with a Bill of Rights banner that accompanies the pentagram. It reads: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, we celebrate the Birth of the Unconquered Sun — the TRUE reason for the season. As Americans, let us also honor the birth of our Bill of Rights, which reminds us there can be no freedom OF religion, without freedom FROM religion in government.”
The banner depicts the Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington gazing at a “baby” Bill of Rights.
Outraged by the display and its close proximity to the Nativity scene, local clergy from a variety of denominations countered by erecting their own banner which reads:
“The Interfaith religious community honors our constitutional rights of freedom of speech and worship. We are blessed to live in a country that cherishes and protects these rights. The use of satanic symbols is offensive, and harmful to our community’s well being. We find it a shameful and hypocritical way to advocate for freedom from religion.”
Smith issued a statement in defense of his actions: “All hail Satan! Love trumps hate. The First Amendment must be protected, including the freedom to offend.”
Boca Raton mayor Susan Haynie said that free speech laws forced the city to allow the Satanic display on public property but added that she found the display hateful and does not support its message.
The local citizenry also weighed in on the matter.
Resident Jerry Yeager told Local 10: “I think it’s ridiculous. This is Boca Raton and we put up something like this?”
Resident Aeryn Beining told WSVN: ‘Why would someone do that when we have so many people here who have so many different religions, and they’re being disrespectful.’
Someone went even further however, and spray painted over the display less than a day after it was erected.
Smith responding angrily, saying that he had filed a police report for the “hate crime” and says the Freedom from Religion Foundation is offering a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.
Thus far, no suspects have been named.
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