A conservative school district and Texas lawmaker try to outmaneuver efforts to subvert “In God We Trust” law

State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, attends a press conference at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2021. Hughes authored a law mandating that public schools must display signs bearing the national motto in a “conspicuous place” if donated or purchased for the purpose of display. (Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune)

When news broke two weeks ago that Texas had a new law on the books requiring public schools to display donated “In God We Trust” signs, protesters quickly schemed about how to subvert the law’s intent.

In Florida, longtime church and state separation advocate Chaz Stevens immediately began work on a plan. He wanted his protest to follow the letter of the law, but flip it in a way that might spark opposition from the law’s supporters, like having the nation’s motto written in Arabic. Stevens is well aware he’s relying on Islamophobia to provoke conservatives but he’s also hoping teachers can use his signs to discuss faiths other than the nation’s dominant religion in public schools.