Town Christmas Display Sparks Showdown Over Faith and Freedom

In Mullins, South Carolina — a small town rooted deep in Christian values — a holiday Nativity scene has ignited a fierce battle over religious freedom. The spark? An order from Democrat Mayor Miko Pickett to strip down the baby Jesus from a downtown marketplace. The response? A defiant “No.”

Kimberly Byrd, who leads the Mullins Beautification Committee, told Fox News Digital the town’s first-ever Christmas decor at the newly developed market area was meant to be heartwarming and festive — “like a Hallmark movie.” Byrd and her team spent weeks decorating the plaza with their own funds, including wreaths, lights, Santa Claus, and, yes, a 3-by-4-foot Nativity display.

Then the mayor texted.

“She said we needed to take the Nativity scene down because of ‘other beliefs’ in the community,” Byrd explained. “I was shocked. I’ve lived here 53 years. This is the Bible Belt. We have churches on every corner.”

Mayor Pickett — elected in 2023 with support from progressive groups — cited the “separation of church and state” as her reasoning, even posting a public statement to Facebook on Nov. 26 claiming the display “violated public space neutrality.”

But for Byrd, this wasn’t just about one decoration — it was about something far bigger.

“How are we supposed to explain to our kids that we have to hide our religion, hide our beliefs, and hide what Christmas is about?” she said. “Christmas is not about Santa Claus. It’s about the birth of Jesus.”

Byrd told local media she’s received overwhelming support — including from members of the town council, residents, and even folks from outside the state — all urging her to hold the line.

Councilman Albert Woodberry joined the chorus, telling ABC15 News:

“I’d like for it to stay until the season’s over with. Kids pass here, people come to see it. It should not be a problem.”

This week, religious liberty law firm Becket honored Byrd with their 2025 “Tiny Tim Toast” award — recognizing Americans who bravely defend faith in the public square.

“Her courage to stand up for the Nativity scene was admirable and patriotic,” Becket president Mark Rienzi said. “In the face of increasing government efforts to scrub religion from public life, we should all strive to be like Kimberly Byrd.”

President Trump’s newly restructured Office for Faith and American Values has reportedly been made aware of the case and is monitoring similar incidents across the country as part of its renewed Christmas Freedom Initiative.

Supporters of the Nativity display have pointed to the 1984 U.S. Supreme Court case Lynch v. Donnelly, where the justices ruled 5-4 that a city’s inclusion of a Nativity in a broader holiday display was constitutional. Legal analysts say the Mullins display — surrounded by Santa, lights, and wreaths — likely fits that same framework.

Still, Byrd says she’s willing to take down every other decoration if city officials remove the Nativity.

“I never thought I’d have to do anything like this,” she said. “But at the end of the day, we have to stand for what we believe in and what is right.”

Mayor Pickett has refused to comment further.

In a time when public expressions of faith are often ridiculed or erased, Mullins is reminding the country that Christmas isn’t just about gifts and glitter — it’s about Christ.

And in a Republican-led America, where President Trump has vowed to protect traditional values, this small town is showing that the fight for faith still burns bright.

“This is who we are,” Byrd said. “We’re not backing down.”