Wiccan Symbol On Public Square?

City Council Considers Display

(WWNY) A battle over signs and symbols goes before Watertown City Council Monday night.

Witches, known as Wiccans, want to place their holiday symbol on Public Square with the Christian Nativity and the Jewish menorah.

Victoria Bennett is a Wiccan, or white witch, who is leading the crusade for a Yule display.

She wants to create a statue called a "Triple Moon Aspect," which symbolizes the waxing and waning phases of the moon.

The symbol celebrates the winter solstice.

Bennett says that because Wicca is a federally recognized religion, the city council is required by law to allow the symbol on Public Square along with the other religious symbols.

"It should be an all or nothing proposition," she said. "If there are federally recognized religions that wish to display their symbol during the time when other people are, they should be able to."

This isn't the first time holiday decorations have caused controversy in downtown Watertown.

In 1993, a New York City attorney threatened to sue Watertown if the city didn't make the holiday display on Public Square more secular.

After a Jewish menorah was place on the square, Robert Miletsky dropped the lawsuit.

by Diane Rutherford