Group protests absence of atheist holiday tree

Associated Press

WEST CHESTER, Pa.

Supporters of an atheist holiday display are protesting their exclusion from a public exhibit of religious decorations in suburban Philadelphia.

About 30 supporters of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia gathered in West Chester on Saturday to rally against the absence of the “Tree of Knowledge.”

The tree is decorated with book covers from atheist and agnostic authors. It usually stands at the Chester County courthouse with other donated displays, including Santa and a menorah.

This year, county commissioners banned donated displays.

They plan to erect county-owned religious and secular holiday decorations approved by the Supreme Court.

The Daily Local News r eported protesters formed a “human tree of knowledge” by holding the covers of favorite books and talking about the controversy.