Families file suit challenging Arkansas law that requires Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms
Share this @internewscast.com

In Little Rock, Arkansas, seven families initiated legal action on Wednesday, contesting a state mandate that will soon require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. They argue this new law infringes upon their constitutional rights.

The lawsuit, filed at the federal level, takes aim at a law that Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved earlier this year. This requirement mirrors similar laws in Louisiana and is one that has been indicated for approval by the governor of Texas.

The Arkansas law takes effect in August and requires the Ten Commandments to be prominently displayed in public school classrooms and libraries.

The lawsuit argues that mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom and library creates an inescapable influence on students, coercing them into religious participation and aligning with the state’s chosen religious text.

The suit was filed on behalf of the families by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The lawsuit names four school districts in northwest Arkansas — Fayetteville, Bentonville, Siloam Springs and Springdale — as defendants.

A spokesperson for Fayetteville schools said the district would not comment on pending litigation, while the other three districts did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Tim Griffin said his office was reviewing the lawsuit and considering options.

Attorneys for the families, who are Jewish, Unitarian Universalist or nonreligious, said they planned to ask the federal judge in Fayetteville for a preliminary injunction blocking the law’s enforcement. The attorneys say the law violates longstanding Supreme Court precedent and the families’ First Amendment rights.

“By imposing a Christian-centric translation of the Ten Commandments on our children for nearly every hour of every day of their public-school education, this law will infringe on our rights as parents and create an unwelcoming and religiously coercive school environment for our children,” Samantha Stinson, one of the plaintiffs, said in a news release.

Louisiana was the first state to enact such a requirement, and a federal judge blocked the measure before it was to take effect Jan 1. Proponents of Louisiana’s law say that ruling only applies to the five school boards listed in the suit, but The Associated Press is unaware of any posters being displayed in schools as the litigation continues.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Score Big Deals: SUVs for $400 and Dump Trucks for $1K at Orange County Auction!

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – If you’re planning any major construction ventures soon,…

Ballad Health Unveils Plans for New Hospital in Unicoi County

Ballad Health has announced plans to construct a new hospital in the…

Daytona Gardens Apartments Designated as Nuisance Property Following Frequent Police Interventions

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a decisive move, Daytona Beach has labeled…

Several States Consider Eliminating Property Taxes for Homeowners

ATLANTA – Across the nation, a new rallying cry is gaining momentum…

Florida Substitute Teacher Detained for DUI in School Parking Lot Incident

LAKE ALFRED, Fla. – An incident involving a substitute teacher unfolded in…

Bristol City Council Sees Shake-Up as Nave Steps Down

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — On Wednesday, Becky Nave revealed she would be…

Husband Denies Involvement in Wife’s Murder During Double Homicide Trial Tied to Au Pair Affair

RICHMOND, Va. – In a gripping testimony on Wednesday, a man asserted…

Beloved Bristol Eatery Platter & Pour Announces Unexpected Closure: Community Reacts

Bristol, Va. (WJHL) — In a recent announcement, Platter & Pour, a…

Health Charity Warns: Rising Gang Violence in Haiti Fuels Alarming Surge in Sexual Abuse Crisis

HAVANA – A health charity has raised alarms over a distressing surge…

Tragic Shooting in Knoxville: Man Fatally Shot Amid Police Response to Endangered Child Alert

The Knoxville Police Department has launched an investigation following the fatal shooting…

Bruce Springsteen’s Bold Musical Takedown: ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ Targets Trump

Bruce Springsteen has unveiled a new song dedicated to the residents of…

EU Set to Impose Sanctions on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Amid Intensifying Protest Suppression

BRUSSELS – The European Union is on the brink of enacting sanctions…