Denied--again.

A local group is upset that the Secretary of State denied their request for the second year in a row, to have a display on the Capitol grounds for the holidays.

The replica of a Bethlehem inn arose on the lawn of the state Capitol Friday morning.

The Nativity scene, maintained by a private group, has found a place on Capitol grounds since 1948.

But now another organization wants their display to join it.

"What we would like to see actually is for everyone to get a display out here, because there's the misconception out there that we want this Nativity scene taken down. We don't. We want this holiday to be for everyone, to include, not exclude," said Tod Billings, the President of the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers.

He says his is an organization of people who don't believe in traditional religions, but in this case, believe they’re being discriminated against.

Last year they were told by the state that their was proposal wasn’t detailed enough. This year, they tried again and were denied again.

"There are either two issues here; establishment and free speech and so far, the state is violating both of those First Amendment rights to us."

Billings says this time they gave the state a detailed plan of their display: a 7 foot tall box with informative banners explaining the Winter Solstice and depicting famous freethinkers. One side also provides information about the scientific method and other facts.

Natasha Naragon with the Secretary of State's office says detail wasn’t the issue this time. She says the display wasn't consistent with the tone of the other decorations inside the Capitol including Christmas trees, garlands and ornaments, depictions of Santa Claus and snowmen.

She wouldn't say, though, what specifically disqualified the Winter Solstice display.

"No, just overall, the overall aesthetics of it," Naragon said.

The Secretary of State, she says, simply has the final say.

"We do have a policy to give people guidelines but then, of course it is at our discretion if it fits in with our holiday theme," Naragon said.

But Billings says they're not going down without a fight.

"I will say that we will pursue this to the fullest. We will take every legal avenue necessary until they make this inclusionary for all," said Billings.

Billings say they'll be meeting with attorneys from the ACLU on Monday.

While he says that December 25th is definitely an important time for the majority of people in this state it's also the date of the Winter Solstice- a time of celebration that dates back to the Roman Empire.

Other states have also debated this same issue. Recently Washington State announced a policy allowing a holiday tree inside their Capitol after debate erupted when an atheist group put up a display next to a Nativity scene.

For a link to the Freethinker's proposal click here.