A 10-FOOT CROSS THAT HAS STOOD SINCE 1929 REMAINS
A historic cross and Nativity display will remain in a Los Angeles public plaza after a federal appeals court rejected an effort to have them removed. The displays stand at El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the historic heart of the city founded in 1781 and now a major attraction drawing millions of visitors each year.
At the head of Olvera Street stands a 10-foot wooden cross erected in 1929 to commemorate Los Angeles’ 148th birthday. The Nativity is displayed each December alongside Las Posadas, while generations of Olvera Street merchants have helped preserve the area’s Mexican-American heritage since the market opened in 1930. The community also celebrates traditions including Día de los Reyes and Día de los Muertos.
The legal challenge began in 2025 when Los Angeles resident Jack Gerritsen, who identifies as a nonbeliever, sued the city, saying the displays violated the Constitution and made him feel excluded. A federal district court rejected his request, and on September 29, the Ninth Circuit also declined to order their removal, finding that he had not established the required harm or shown that removal would be in the public interest.
A PUBLIC SQUARE THAT STILL REMEMBERS ITS CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
Local merchants had rallied to defend the displays, saying they can ennoble Americans across different faiths, cultures and generations. Becket lawyer Andrea Butler called the ruling “common sense,” saying Los Angeles’ public square naturally reflects its diverse history. The case now returns to the lower court, while the cross and Nativity remain as the legal process continues.
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