Indiana town removes cross from atop Christmas tree after ACLU sues

You can watch the video above for a look at what all the fuss is about, but this is what we have come to: 

A small Indiana town on Monday afternoon conceded it was no match for the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, declining to fight a lawsuit filed Friday that demanded Knightstown remove a lighted cross from the top of its town Christmas tree.

It is with regret and sadness that the Knightstown Town Council has had the cross removed from the Christmas tree on the town square and is expected to approve a resolution at the next council meeting stating they will not return the cross to the tree,” the town council announced in a statement.

The council said the decision was based on advice from its legal counsel and the worry over payments should the council lose in court, Fox 59 reported.

Dozens gathered at the display on Sunday to pray they would be able to keep the cross, RTV6 reported.

The lawsuit claimed plaintiff and Knightstown resident Joseph Tompkins was “forced to come into unwelcome contact” with the display, causing him “irreparable harm.”

But the town is fighting back: 

“It’s just ridiculous,” resident Aaron Magee told WISH. “I’m very offended that the cross was taken down, and I want it put back up. We all want it put back up.”

Protesters have started placing their own crosses on the tree and handing crosses out to those walking by.

ACLU-Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk disagreed with the town and protesters.

“The cross is not a Christmas symbol,” Falk said. “The cross is the pre-eminent symbol of Christianity and it reminds Christians not of the secular trappings of Christmas, but of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus.”