# Legal dispute over religious displays in Los Angeles > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/legal-dispute-over-religious-displays-in-los-angeles > Updated: 2026-09-01T18:25:36.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. A legal dispute has emerged in Los Angeles regarding the presence of historic religious displays at El Pueblo, specifically a 10-foot hand-carved wooden cross erected in 1929 and a traditional Christmas nativity scene in the Old Plaza. Resident Jack Gerritsen, an atheist, filed a lawsuit alleging that these displays on public land violate the First Amendment’s establishment clause, claiming they constitute a government endorsement of religion. Gerritsen is seeking $5 million in damages. Following a federal judge’s rejection of a request to remove the displays—noting the cross meets a “presumption of constitutionality” due to its long history—the Olvera Street Merchants Association has intervened. The merchants have requested to join the City of Los Angeles as a defendant in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to protect the symbols, which they argue are vital to the area’s Mexican-American heritage and economic activity. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-01: Los Angeles merchants fight to preserve historic Olvera Street cross Los Angeles merchants are fighting to preserve a historic cross and Nativity display on Olvera Street following a First Amendment lawsuit filed by an atheist resident. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-merchants-fight-to-preserve-historic-olvera-street-cross ### 2026-08-26: Los Angeles merchants fight to preserve historic El Pueblo religious displays Los Angeles merchants are intervening in a federal appeal to protect a century-old cross and nativity display at El Pueblo against a lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-merchants-fight-to-preserve-historic-el-pueblo-religious-displays --- Cite as: Legal dispute over religious displays in Los Angeles. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/legal-dispute-over-religious-displays-in-los-angeles