Last year before we erected our nativity scene in Central Park, I told the staff that this was the first time in 30 years that we have displayed our crèche that I was concerned it may not be safe. Regrettably, I was right.
On December 26, a video was posted on Instagram showing a man (assisted by two others) draping a large keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian nationalism, on the shoulders of the statue of Our Blessed Mother; he tried to place a Palestinian flag in the hands of Joseph, but failed.
We contacted the New York City Parks Department, which granted us the permit. We are asking the police to follow through. We did not make a public statement until today, January 5, the day our crèche was taken down. We did not address this incident earlier because we did not want to encourage others to finish the job.
New York City is a hotbed of left-wing radicals who despise religious liberty, and it does not lack for government officials for leadership. We expect to be very busy in 2026, defending our First Amendment rights.
