VICTORY! Florida Mall Reverses Policy Regarding Christmas Songs After American Family Association Action Alert

TUPELO, Miss.—Pumpkins and autumn leaves are still on store shelves, but one mall in Florida was already laying down the law when it came to expressions of Christmas this season.

In an Action Alert to its more than one million friends and supporters, the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) alerted shoppers this week about a disturbing and disappointing local Christmas policy at the University Town Center Mall in Sarasota, Fla., which had issued a very specific directive: “For choral groups, the Mall prefers no clearly recognizable Christian music, such as carols sung in English, spirituals or gospel.”

But AFA partners contacted the mall in droves, and just hours after the alert, University Town Center Mall reversed its policy and apologized for the gaffe

“The materials created and distributed by a third party company relating to the hiring of performance groups for UTC were not reviewed by UTC staff in advance of distribution,” according to a mall statement. “These materials do not in any way represent an existing center policy or viewpoint. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused within the Sarasota community.” A spokesperson added that Christmas hymns and carols that are Christian in nature will be allowed.

“Thanks to the efforts of the strong voice of American Family Association friends, and with God’s help, we made a difference,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “The error at this mall has been corrected, but the ‘War on Christmas 2016’ is just beginning. As the season of the Savior’s birth approaches, there will be more attempts by companies to drop Christ from Christmas. As Christians, we must proclaim the truth wherever we go—through our spending, opinions or actions. It’s time to stop anti-Christian policies that have become commonplace, and we hope that other malls around the country will take a cue from this situation in Florida.”

To sign up for AFA Action Alerts like the one that helped reverse the mall policy, click here.

For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.