Becket Seeks 9th Circuit Entry for Merchants in 1929 Olvera Street Cross Fight
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 28
Becket Seeks 9th Circuit Entry for Merchants in 1929 Olvera Street Cross Fight
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 28
Summary
A Monday filing asks the Ninth Circuit to let the Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation join the case over Los Angeles' nearly century-old cross and annual Nativity display at El Pueblo.
The move follows a resident's lawsuit seeking to remove or cover the cross and halt the Nativity, arguing the displays offend him and exclude non-believers.
Becket says the cross has stood since 1929 and the Nativity is part of Las Posadas, with merchant families—some on Olvera Street since 1930—helping preserve those traditions for generations.
Andrea Butler, Becket's lead attorney, argues removing the displays would undercut Mexican-American cultural celebrations at a site that draws millions of visitors each year and could expose similar religious monuments nationwide to challenge.