A group of Louisiana parents and civil rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the state over a new law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that the legislation violates US Supreme Court precedent and the First Amendment.
House Bill 71, signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, requires that a poster-sized display of a state-approved version of the Ten Commandments be placed in every classroom from kindergarten through university-level at state-funded schools by January 1, 2025. Louisiana is currently the only state with this requirement.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including the ACLU, ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, represent nine multi-faith families with students enrolled in Louisiana public schools. These families argue that the law pressures students into religious observance and sends a divisive message to those who do not subscribe to the specific version of the Ten Commandments mandated by the law.
State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley expressed his support for the law, stating that it passed with overwhelming support in the state legislature and was enthusiastically signed by the Governor. However, the organizations behind the lawsuit plan to seek a preliminary injunction hearing this summer to prevent the law from being implemented.
Opponents of the law, including parents of various faith backgrounds, spoke out against it, calling it unconstitutional, divisive, and an intrusion into matters of faith. They argue that the law will create an unwelcoming and oppressive school environment for students who do not align with the state's religious preferences.
Despite concerns raised by opponents, Rep. Dodie Horton, the Republican author of the legislation, defended the law by stating that the Ten Commandments are rooted in legal history and that the bill aims to instill a moral code in classrooms.
