Provocative Nativity Displays at American Churches Offer Commentary on ICE
Throughout the United States, satirical holiday displays are on display that comment on hardline government immigration crackdowns. These installations retell the traditional nativity story, depicting the infant Christ and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as figures caught up in the actions of enforcement agents.
An Evocative Retelling in Evanston
One striking installation at a congregation in the Chicago suburb of Evanston shows baby Jesus lying in a manger amidst snow. However, the doll is wrapped in the kind of thin, foil blankets frequently distributed to detainees and has its hands bound with zip-ties.
Close by, the statue of Mary is positioned outside the church, wearing a gas mask. Such gear has been adopted by activists attempting protection from tear gas. She is flanked by representations of ancient soldiers, but in this display they are dressed in body armor labeled with the acronym “ICE.”
‘The Holy Family is in Hiding’
At another Windy City place of worship, the usual figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the traditional nativity scene featuring animals and Magi. In their place, a sign bears a direct message: “Due to enforcement actions in our neighborhood the Holy Family is in seclusion.”
“The holiday season is a period when we have displays in front of the church and we get an opportunity to say something,” remarked a church leader behind one of the installations.
Messages Spread Across the Country
These artistic statements are extensions of the prominent part played by religious communities in ongoing protests against federal policies. Comparable political displays have been erected in multiple states.
In one New England state, a church removed the small statue of the baby Jesus from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that read: “ICE was here.” The parish are said to have stood defiant despite complaints from various religious and government leadership.
Linking Biblical Narrative and Modern Crisis
For the creators of these scenes, framing the ancient tale of the nativity within a modern sociopolitical frame helps bring focus to ongoing administrative priorities. They contend that the holy family’s status as refugees mirrors the actual anxieties and experiences of many households today, encompassing being torn apart and the removal of breadwinning loved ones.
This is not the initial instance congregations have used Christmas displays for social commentary. Previously, installations have highlighted issues ranging from conflict to the environmental emergency.
Facing Pushback and Weathering the Elements
The messages are not always widely accepted. A clergy member involved noted that some critics either misinterpret the intent or “find it really difficult to their conscience and are reacting negatively at the art rather than considering what the actual message is.”
In a physical way, the elements have also affected one scene. At another location, the statue of Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and was unable to be repaired. A substitute notice now marks the space, stating: “Joseph didn’t make it. We hold this space to honor and remember all the those affected of immigration enforcement actions.”
