A recent development in Louisiana has sparked controversy as a group of parents and civil rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the state over a new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms. The legislation, known as House Bill 71, was signed into law by Republican Governor Jeff Landry and mandates that a state-approved version of the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in every classroom from kindergarten through university-level at state-funded schools by January 1, 2025.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that this requirement violates US Supreme Court precedent and the First Amendment. The plaintiffs, including the American Civil Liberties Union, 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, comprising individuals of various religious backgrounds and beliefs, assert that the law imposes religious observance and pressures students into adopting the state's favored religious scripture.
According to the complaint, the mandatory display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms sends a divisive message and excludes students who do not align with the state's religious preferences. The lawsuit names several state education officials and local school boards as defendants, with Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley expressing support for the law's implementation.
Opponents of the law, including parents involved in the lawsuit, have criticized it as unconstitutional, intolerant, and divisive. They argue that it creates an unwelcoming environment for students of diverse religious backgrounds and infringes on matters of faith. Louisiana State Representative Dodie Horton, the bill's author, has defended the legislation, stating that it upholds a moral code and historical legal roots.
The organizations behind the lawsuit plan to seek a preliminary injunction hearing to prevent the law from being enforced in Louisiana schools. The controversy surrounding the Ten Commandments display requirement highlights the ongoing debate over the separation of church and state in public education.
