Members of All Nations Church protest Boca Raton ban of holiday decorations

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Members of All Nations Church in Boca Raton took to the streets Tuesday to protest city rules regarding holiday decorations.

The group marched from their church on 4th Avenue to City Hall with crèches in hand, upset the small nativity scenes cannot be displayed publicly inside the city building.

Pastor Mark Boykin calls the move a civil rights violation, saying the city is denying the recognition of Christmas.

A few weeks ago, the City of Boca Raton decided not to have any holiday decorations inside City Hall or public libraries in an effort to avoid upsetting the group. But the Mayor admitted Tuesday that was a mistake. She says there will be protestors regardless what city leaders decide, and she's also heard from many residents who miss the decorations.

In an about-face, the city voted Monday night to permit holiday symbols inside city buildings that the U.S. Supreme Court deems allowable. It includes Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs. The Supreme Court says both those symbols don't necessarily signify religion.

But that isn't enough for members of the Church of All Nations who feel they have the right to display the crèche and other religious symbols anywhere.

The City of Boca Raton has set aside a place for all religious decorations in Sanborn Square off Federal Highway. That is a place where nativity scenes and Jewish symbols like the Star of David are allowed.