Religious displays set far apart in state Capitol

Washington state has issued permits to three groups wanting to put up holiday displays touching on religion at or near the Capitol Campus, and all are far apart from each other this year.

The Chabad Jewish Discovery Center received a permit to place its nine-foot-tall lighted menorah at Sylvester Park in downtown Olympia.

A permit for a Nativity set was granted on the west campus lawn near the Winged Victory statue – a couple hundred feet from an atheists’ display.

The third permit was issued to the Freedom from Religion Foundation based in Madison, Wis., which has put up a placard at Tivoli Fountain and Capitol Way on the west campus lawn.