Organizations challenge Louisiana law requiring display of the Ten Commandments in schools

As they had warned, civil liberties groups officially presented a Lawsuit to Block New Louisiana Law which requires that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms, a measure they consider unconstitutional.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include parents of Louisiana public school children from diverse religious backgrounds, who are represented by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Freedom From Religion Foundation and the law firm . of New York City. Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett.

“This exhibit sends a message to my children and other students that people of some religious dominions are superior to others,” said the Rev. Jeff Simms, a Presbyterian pastor who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit and the father of three children in public schools in Louisiana.

Under legislation signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry last week, all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities will be required to display a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” next year.

Opponents argue that the law is a violation of the separation of Church and State and that the exhibition will isolate students, especially those who are not Christians. Its defenders say the measure is not only religious, but has historical significance. In the language of the law, the Ten Commandments are “fundamental documents of our state and national government.”

The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that the new law, called HB 71, violates provisions of the First Amendment that prohibit the establishment of religion by the government and guarantee religious freedom. It also seeks an order banning the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.

“The State’s primary interest in passing HB 71 was to impose religious beliefs on public school children, without regard to the harm to students and families,” the lawsuit says.

“The bill’s primary sponsor and author, Rep. Dodie Horton, proclaimed during debate on the bill that it “aims to have an exposition of God’s law in classrooms so that children see what He says is right.” and what he says is wrong.”

“A state cannot impose religion on a captive audience of young, impressionable students of various religions, or none at all,” said Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) Legal Director Patrick Elliott.

“We look forward to protecting the constitutional rights of all Louisiana families,” he added.

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