ACLU to Sue Louisiana for Requiring Ten Commandments in Public Schools

The Epoch Times Header

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed the law on June 19.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups are planning to sue Louisiana over a new law that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

Louisiana House Bill 71, which became law on June 19, mandates that school districts must โ€œdisplay the Ten Commandments in each classroom in each school under its jurisdiction,โ€ by Jan. 1, 2025.

The law โ€œviolates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional,โ€ the ACLU, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a joint statement.

The organizations pointed out that no other states require public schools to display the Ten Commandments, which is a list of directives from the Bible. They also highlighted a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision that found a Kentucky law requiring the commandments in every public school classroom โ€œhas no secular legislative purpose, and therefore is unconstitutional as violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.โ€

In that case, Stone v. Graham, the 5-4 majority said that the Bible could be used in certain classes like history but that posting religious texts on walls โ€œserves no such educational function.โ€

Louisiana legislators cite another 5-4 Supreme Court decision in the law. Issued in 2005 in the case of Van Orden v. Perry, the Supreme Court found that the Establishment Clause allowed the display of a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol.

โ€œThe placement of the Ten Commandments monument on the Texas State Capitol grounds is a far more passive use of those texts than was the case in Stone, where the text confronted elementary school students every day,โ€ the majority said in that ruling. It added later that the display in Texas โ€œhas a dual significance, partaking of both religion and government.โ€

By Zachary Stieber

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

โ€˜This One Time, at Groomer Campโ€™

All Camp Brave Trails programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion.

News

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.

US Economy Adds 139,000 New Jobs in May, Topping Market Forecasts

U.S. economy added 139,000 new jobs last month, surpassing economistsโ€™ expectations and indicating U.S. labor market remains in a robust position.
spot_img

Related Articles