When a South Carolina town committee refused to remove their nativity scene despite direct orders from their mayor, they ignited a constitutional showdown that reveals the deepening fault lines between religious liberty and government neutrality in America.
Story Highlights
- Mullins Mayor Miko Pickett ordered removal of nativity scene from public parking lot, citing religious neutrality concerns
- Beautification Committee leader Kimberly Byrd defied the order, keeping the display intact through community support
- The standoff reflects ongoing constitutional tensions between religious expression and separation of church and state
- Community residents rallied behind the committee, threatening to remove all holiday decorations if the nativity scene was taken down
Mayor’s Order Sparks Immediate Community Backlash
Mayor Miko Pickett’s December order to remove the nativity scene from a public parking lot near Mullins’ marketplace caught the community by surprise. Her Facebook statement explained that the display made the city appear “not neutral” on religious matters. The Beautification Committee had spent two weeks decorating the area where vendors gather twice monthly, making the nativity scene part of a broader holiday beautification effort.
The community response was swift and decisive. Residents expressed outrage at the removal order, with one stating: “If they want to take it down, they can take it down. But if they take it down, we’ll take our decorations down. Because that’s just how strongly I’m convicted about this.” This sentiment captured the depth of local commitment to maintaining the religious display.
Committee Leader Takes Constitutional Stand
Kimberly Byrd, who leads the Mullins Beautification Committee, became the face of resistance against the mayor’s order. Her defiance earned recognition through a religious liberty award, highlighting how her local stand resonated with broader religious freedom advocacy. Byrd’s position represents more than simple rebellion against municipal authority—it reflects a principled stance on constitutional religious expression rights.
Good! They did nothing wrong.
South Carolina Town Committee Keeps Nativity Scene After Mayor Orders It Removed https://t.co/xbcdnW1AvU
— K J Gillenwater (@kjgillenwater) December 22, 2025
The committee’s refusal to comply created an ongoing governance challenge for city leadership. With no enforcement mechanism immediately deployed, the nativity scene remained in place as of late December, creating a standoff that neither side seemed willing to resolve through compromise. The situation demonstrates how local religious liberty disputes can quickly escalate beyond simple municipal disagreements.
Constitutional Precedent Frames the Dispute
The Mullins controversy operates within established legal framework dating to a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that guides how municipalities handle religious displays on public property. This precedent creates competing interpretations: Mayor Pickett’s position emphasizes government neutrality toward religion, while the committee’s stance prioritizes protection of religious expression and community traditions. Both positions claim constitutional grounding.
The dispute exemplifies ongoing national tensions regarding First Amendment Religion Clauses—specifically balancing free exercise of religion against establishment clause requirements. Similar controversies occur across American municipalities during holiday seasons, indicating this represents part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident. The Mullins case contributes to evolving jurisprudence about religious displays in public spaces.
Sources:
Wilmington Daily News Now Report
