nativity

Take a look at Claremont United Methodist Church’s nativity scene and you’ll notice an addition that usually isn’t housed in the traditional layout.

The California church has decided to include a statue of Trayvon Martin, draped in a hoodie with a stream of blood pouring from his chest onto a straw-covered floor. 

From The Daily Bulletin:

For the seventh straight Christmas, the church at 211 W. Foothill Blvd. has turned its Nativity display into a piece of art that comments on our times.

John Zachary, the artist, told [The Daily Bulletin] the acquittal in July of George Zimmerman, who fatally shot the 17-year-old African-American in 2012, struck him as a worthy subject for Christmas comment.

Zachary said: “If you drive by, you think, oh, that’s nice. Then you think, what’s that black kid doing there? So you take a look.”

Read more at The Daily Bulletin

In addition to a bloody Trayvon, the backdrop to the display is the slaughter of all infants by King Herod in Bethlehem, an attempt to kill the Messiah.

The artist wants to communicate the message of agony felt by parents who have lost their children. The scene has been up since Dec. 8 and will be removed on Jan. 5.

Thoughts on the display?

Is it offensive?

Sound off below!