New York Town Bans Christians from Erecting Displays in Public, While Allowing Islamic and Other Symbols

Todd Starnes : Aug 17, 2026
ToddStarnes.com

"When the government creates a forum for private expression, it cannot pick and choose which viewpoints are welcome." -Statement by American Center for Law and Justice

[ToddStarnes.com] A New York town is facing legal trouble after elected leaders said it was okay to display Islamic symbols in the public square, but not Christian symbols. (Image: Generated by Gemini AI)

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed a federal lawsuit accusing officials in Brighton, New York, of violating the First Amendment after refusing to allow a Christian resident to erect a traditional Nativity scene in the town's public square—despite permitting other religious displays, including a prominent Ramadan banner celebrating the Muslim holy month.

"We are not in any way trying to get rid of any of the other religious symbols. That's not what this case is about. There's room for everybody, right? Not drive anyone out. Not make anyone else feel unwelcome. There's room for everybody. And that's the kind of bottom line message that we're trying to convey here," ACLJ attorney Nathan Moelker told television station WHEC.

According to the complaint, Brighton officials have ignored repeated requests from a local physician for more than two years to display a life-size Nativity scene in the Twelve Corners public square during the Christmas season. Meanwhile, the town has allowed other private religious displays, including a large Ramadan banner and a Hanukkah menorah.

The lawsuit argues that the town has engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination by welcoming some religious messages while effectively shutting the door on Christianity.

"Government officials cannot open a public forum for private holiday expression and then exclude certain speech simply because it is religious or less favored," the ACLJ said in announcing the lawsuit. "The First Amendment requires government neutrality toward religion—not hostility."

The lawsuit contends that, "The government may not sanitize the public square by excluding religious viewpoints while welcoming secular ones," adding that the town has "repeatedly singled out the Nativity for exclusion because of its religious message."

The contrast lies at the heart of the legal challenge. While Brighton has made room in the public square for Islamic and Jewish expressions of faith, the ACLJ alleges officials have refused to afford Christians the same constitutional protections.

"The Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear that religious speakers and religious expression cannot be treated as second-class participants in the public square," the ACLJ said. "When the government creates a forum for private expression, it cannot pick and choose which viewpoints are welcome."

The lawsuit asks the federal court to declare Brighton's actions unconstitutional and order the town to allow the Nativity display on the same terms afforded to other private religious displays.

"This case is about much more than one Nativity scene," the ACLJ said. "Protecting the right to display it is about safeguarding the freedom for all Americans to express their beliefs openly and joyfully."

Americans should be concerned about the rise of Islam and that's why I wrote in my new book about what I believe is a clear and present danger to the Republic. Islam is not a religion; it's a political ideology. Either convert or lose your life.

In "The Golden Age: How Trump Saved America," I explain why Christians must fight to save the Republic and I also show how to make that happen. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here