WIVB in New York reports that an anonymous caller to the Olean police department claims to be the man who ran over a holiday Pentacle display in early December.

“Police believe they’ve received a phone-call confession from the person who ran-over a holiday pentacle display in olean. This all started earlier this month in Olean. The city allowed people to put up religious symbols in front of city hall..but not long after someone erected a Wiccan pentacle sign.. Someone ran it over.”

The vandalized Pentacle display.

Here is the content of the caller’s message:

“Hello there, this is a tough call for me to make… We were in Olean shopping.. We had dinner.. We were on our way home.. my girlfriend said, hey, there’s the symbol that was on the news I wish someone would run it over I had a few beers in me.. and was showing off, so I backed into it. I am truly sorry it wasn’t a hate crime..just an off color prank.”

See? It isn’t a hate crime if you had a few beers in you and did it to impress your girlfriend. This “beer + girlfriend” defense seems to be winning over the local police, who say that they only plan to charge the man with misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief (if they catch him). No word on if further charges will be entertained (like drunk driving for instance). What do you think? Is this a hate crime or an “off color prank”, what punishment do you think the driver (and possibly the girlfriend) should receive?

WIVB in New York reports that an anonymous caller to the Olean police department claims to be the man who ran over a holiday Pentacle display in early December.

“Police believe they’ve received a phone-call confession from the person who ran-over a holiday pentacle display in olean. This all started earlier this month in Olean. The city allowed people to put up religious symbols in front of city hall..but not long after someone erected a Wiccan pentacle sign.. Someone ran it over.”

The vandalized Pentacle display.

Here is the content of the caller’s message:

“Hello there, this is a tough call for me to make… We were in Olean shopping.. We had dinner.. We were on our way home.. my girlfriend said, hey, there’s the symbol that was on the news I wish someone would run it over I had a few beers in me.. and was showing off, so I backed into it. I am truly sorry it wasn’t a hate crime..just an off color prank.”

See? It isn’t a hate crime if you had a few beers in you and did it to impress your girlfriend. This “beer + girlfriend” defense seems to be winning over the local police, who say that they only plan to charge the man with misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief (if they catch him). No word on if further charges will be entertained (like drunk driving for instance). What do you think? Is this a hate crime or an “off color prank”, what punishment do you think the driver (and possibly the girlfriend) should receive?

It looks like the saga of a controversial Nativity display in Olean, New York, and the resulting Holiday Pentacle display has come to an end. Just three days after the installation of the Pentacle by a local Wiccan (and one day after it was run over by a truck), Mayor David J. Carucci has decided to re-locate the Nativity to a nearby Baptist Church.

“The battle of the Nativity – and the pentacle – came to an end in Olean on Tuesday, at least for now. A day after the large lavender and silver wooden pentacle sign was driven over and later stood back up – a hole in the front and tire tracks notwithstanding – the adjacent Nativity scene was moved a block down the street from the City Hall lawn to the front of a Baptist church. Later Wednesday afternoon, John Garlow went to City Hall and removed the pentacle he and his wife, April, had placed there as a Wiccan response to the Nativity scene.”

It looks like a storm of criticism, and an investigation into a possible hate-crime were more heat than the defiant Mayor wanted to deal with. Mayor Carucci claims that the incident with the Pentacle was mere vandalism, but John and April Garlow, who erected the Pentacle, claim there were threats made against them.

“Garlow said it had been suggested on Internet message boards that his wife should be beaten … Shortly after 4 p.m., the battered pentacle was removed by John Garlow, aided by Gan, and strapped to the luggage rack of a station wagon. Passing motorists offered comments and a woman onlooker, bearing a placard with the words ‘God Will Win,’ stood nearby.”

Oh, if only the reporter transcribed some of the “offered comments”. Does anyone really believe this was random vandalism? For now, at least, it looks like the controversy that started this is over. There is still the matter of catching the “vandal” who ran over the Pentacle display, and making sure he is brought to justice. Lets hope the Police follow through on their promise to investigate this as a possible hate crime.

As for the Garlows, I salute their courage and determination. I hope the Pagan community in Olean is rallying around them. While many talk about doing something, they acted and demanded a place at the table. The Garlows have opened a door, and it would be rude of us to refuse to follow when similar situations present themselves.

It looks like the press missed a beat here. At the end of November, a Wiccan was granted permission to erect a Pentacle display next to a controversial Nativity display in Olean, NY. I was very excited by this prospect, but the next day the Wiccan in question backed down from erecting the display.

“April Garlow said she won’t erect the Wiccan symbol. Garlow made the request after being outraged that the mayor allowed a group to place a nativity scene, a Christian symbol, on the municipal building’s lawn. “I couldn’t believe they would put it on public property. I’m a homeowner in Olean, I pay taxes,” Garlow said … Garlow has said she will not place her Wiccan symbol at the building because of the possibility of lawsuits from outside organizations. Carucci said the offer remains for her and anyone else wishing to display their religious symbols.”

But it seems that Garlow changed her mind, and took Carucci up on his offer, erecting a Pentacle next to the Nativity display last weekend. This development didn’t make it to the news-wires, but news has been made again now that the display was destroyed by vandals.

The vandalized Pentacle display.

“Police are investigating vandalism aimed at a symbol of the Wiccan religion set up next to a Nativity scene in front of city hall. Officials in this city 60 miles south of Buffalo say someone in a pickup truck backed over the Wiccan pentacle around 10:15 p.m. Monday, then sped off. The pentacle, a pentagram within a circle, was placed last weekend near the Nativity scene Olean Mayor David Carucci allowed to be set up outside city hall last month.”

Looks like some Christians aren’t as committed to religion in the public square as they claim. I hope the culprit is caught and made to personally restore the symbol, and I hope that every Pagan and Heathen in the Olean area comes forward to erect their own Winter-themed displays. Let the Nativity exist in a sea of religious imagery, or remove it from public property.

ADDENDUM: A further report on the incident can be found at the WIVB site, including a picture of the Pentacle display.

Remember my post the other day when I said Pagans should take advantage of public Nativity display clauses allowing for other religions to “add their symbols”?

“The city of Menominee is trying to legally protect itself by having a provision stating that “non-Christians be allowed to add their symbols”. I can only hope that this means an enterprising Pagan group or two are getting public displays ready to sit next to the nativity scene. What about a baby Mithras? A mini-temple to Saturn? How about a Yule Goat? Lets get creative here!”

Well it looks like some Pagans in Olean, New York (near Buffalo) have decided to test the waters and do exactly that.

“The Nativity scene outside a municipal building near Buffalo could soon be sharing space with a Wiccan pentacle. Olean Mayor David Carucci has given a local resident permission to set up a pentacle next to the Nativity scene outside the Olean Municipal Building.”

Carucci’s decision to allow a Pentacle display comes shortly after facing criticism from local Jewish groups for setting up a Christian symbol on municipal property. At the time he made the promise often made after a controversial religious display is placed on public property:

“Mayor Carucci, who is Christian, said any other religious group is also welcome to put a display outside the City Building. He said he decided to allow the Nativity, which depicts the birth of Jesus Christ, after a group of private individuals asked him for permission to put it up.”

So now Carucci’s convictions will be put to the test, and a holiday-themed Pentacle symbol will be placed next to the Nativity. One wonders how passerby will know it is Pagan, since Christmas stars are often portrayed as five-pointed. Will there be other elements? Maybe they should have gone with the giant Yule goat instead. But since this is a Wiccan display it leaves openings for Asatru and other Pagan faiths to stake out a piece of municipal land as well. Lets see a plethora of (Pagan) holiday religious displays!

UPDATE: The Wiccan who got permission to erect the holiday Pentacle display is backing down from doing so, due to fear of litigation.

“Despite getting the mayor’s permission to place a pentacle at Olean’s City Hall, April Garlow said she won’t erect the Wiccan symbol. Garlow made the request after being outraged that the mayor allowed a group to place a nativity scene, a Christian symbol, on the municipal building’s lawn … Garlow has said she will not place her Wiccan symbol at the building because of the possibility of lawsuits from outside organizations. Carucci said the offer remains for her and anyone else wishing to display their religious symbols.”

She does realize that any litigation would most likely be aimed at the City right? This is disappointing, I want my Pagan Winter Festival display! Come on Olean Pagans, step up!