KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. — Residents in a small Indiana town are outraged after the cross on the town’s Christmas tree was taken down.

The cross was removed Monday afternoon following a lawsuit from the ACLU last week, according to WISH . Resident Joseph Tompkins filed a lawsuit saying his civil liberties were being infringed upon. That’s when the ACLU picked it up.

The town conceded the case after they felt they wouldn’t win and knew they couldn’t pay the legal fees.

The town released a statement about the incident:

It is with regret and sadness that the Knightstown Town Council has had the cross removed from the Christmas tree on the town square and is expected to approve a resolution at the next council meeting stating they will not return the cross to the tree. We could not win the court case brought by the ACLU. We would have been required to pay the legal fees of the ACLU lawyer and monetary damage to the plaintiff, Mr. Joseph Tompkins, as set by the Court. This is our statement based on advice from our legal counsel.

Most residents have sided with town officials but are furious about the ACLU’s lawsuit.

“God died for us and everything, and just one person can do all of this, to all of us,” said resident Dale Drake.

Another citizen felt the ruling was unfair.

“If you can’t have Christ in your heart, I don’t know what you can have.”

Another protest is planned for 1 p.m. on Sunday.