Families Sue Arkansas Over Law Mandating Ten Commandments Display in Classrooms

Seven families in Arkansas have initiated a lawsuit challenging a state law requiring public school classrooms to display copies of the Ten Commandments. They argue that this legislation infringes upon their constitutional rights. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and targets a measure recently signed into law by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, which mirrors similar mandates in Louisiana and Texas.

The Arkansas law is set to take effect in August and mandates that the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in all public school classrooms and libraries. According to the lawsuit, this requirement creates an atmosphere that unconstitutionally pressures students into adopting the state’s preferred religious text. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation, have named four school districts in northwest Arkansas—Fayetteville, Bentonville, Siloam Springs, and Springdale—as defendants.

Officials from Fayetteville schools declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, while the other districts were unresponsive to requests for comment. A representative for Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin stated that the office is currently reviewing the lawsuit and weighing its options. The families involved, which include individuals who identify as Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, or nonreligious, intend to request a preliminary injunction to prevent the enforcement of the law.

They argue that it contravenes established Supreme Court rulings and infringes upon their First Amendment rights. One plaintiff, Samantha Stinson, expressed concerns that the law promotes a Christian-centered interpretation of the Ten Commandments, thereby creating a coercive and unwelcoming environment for students. Louisiana was the first state to implement such a statute, but its enforcement was blocked by a federal judge prior to its effective date.

Proponents of the Louisiana law maintain that the ruling only impacts the specific school boards mentioned in the case, yet there have been no confirmed instances of the Ten Commandments being displayed in Louisiana schools during the ongoing litigation.