Non-Christians' Complaints Lead City to Remove Flowerbed Shaped Like a Cross

In a world ravaged by tragedy, despair and numerous matters of dire importance, it's sometimes perplexing which issues some activists choose to focus on. Alas, there's yet another religious drama unfolding in Columbus, Georgia, after non-believers complained over the presence of the cross-shaped flowerbed in a local park. Following their angst, the mayor promptly ordered it be removed from government property.

"We had some complaints from other citizens not of the Christian faith," Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson said in an interview with Fox News. "They actually physically reformed the Christian cross into the rectangular flower bed."

In April, the city made it clear, based on unsettled proclamations from citizens, that the faith-inspiring flowerbed was no longer welcome on public land. So, the arms of the cross were removed by the Windsor Park Homeowners Association, the group responsible for its upkeep, to form the aforementioned rectangular floral border.

Tomlinson claims that the act was done in order to keep the City of Columbus in compliance with supposed federal laws.

"A Christian cross or a symbol of any particular faith could not permanently rest in a park," she maintains. "So we had to abide by the applicable law."

While atheists and secularists are certainly happy with the decision, some residents are demanding that the cross be restored. Based on current comments from the mayor, though, this seems unlikely.

Resident George Wade, for instance, went to a city council meeting where people requested that the flowerbed's restoration to its former glory.

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"The satisfactory resolution is that the cross is there," Wade told WTVM. "The councilmen are beginning to understand the urgency that needs to be addressed because the people are concerned about this."

Adding to the controversy, back in June, the Ledger-Enquirer reported that someone had gone in and restored the cross. "Someone restored the cross shape and added a layer of pine straw," the outlet reported. When learned of the change, she immediately ordered the flowerbed changed back to a rectangle.

Clearly, Tomlinson isn't backing off of the stance she claims is directly related to a 1983 court case surrounding a cross on government land.

(H/T: Fox News Radio)