**Parents and Civil Rights Groups Sue Louisiana to Block ‘Disturbing’ Ten Commandments Law**
A coalition of Louisiana families and civil rights groups has filed a federal lawsuit to block a new state law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The plaintiffs, who come from diverse religious backgrounds including Jewish, Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and non-religious, argue that the law violates the First Amendment and long-standing Supreme Court precedent.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Baton Rouge, contends that the law unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance and sends a divisive message to those who do not subscribe to the Ten Commandments. The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
Republican Governor Jeff Landry signed the legislation from a Catholic school auditorium, stating that he “can’t wait to be sued” and positioning Louisiana as the first state to mandate the Ten Commandments in schools. The law appears to be designed to provoke a federal court battle that could potentially reach the Supreme Court, where conservative Christian legal groups hope to challenge and reverse previous rulings that protect the separation of church and state.
The plaintiffs argue that the law not only infringes on First Amendment protections but also sends a harmful message that students who do not adhere to the Ten Commandments are not welcome in their school community. The law requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in a specific format, including a 200-word context statement asserting that the Ten Commandments were a prominent part of American public education for nearly three centuries.
Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, called the law a “disturbing abuse of power” and emphasized that schools are meant to educate, not evangelize. Reverend Jeff Sims, a Presbyterian minister and one of the plaintiffs, stated that the law interferes with his ability to teach his children about scripture within the context of their faith, which values diversity and equality.
Josh Herlands, a Jewish parent with two children in New Orleans public schools, expressed concern that the state-approved version of the Ten Commandments distorts their Jewish significance and sends a troubling message that his children are considered “less than” for not subscribing to the state’s religious preferences.
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, described the law as an example of Christian nationalism and a fundamental threat to democracy. She emphasized the importance of secular, inclusive public schools that welcome all students regardless of their belief system.
The lawsuit highlights the religiously coercive nature of the mandated displays, arguing that they unconstitutionally pressure students into religious observance and send a divisive message to those who do not subscribe to the Ten Commandments. The plaintiffs include a diverse group of families, including a Unitarian Universalist minister and her family, a Presbyterian minister and his children, and non-religious parents.
In connection with the lawsuit, the civil rights organizations representing the plaintiffs issued statements condemning the law. Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, stated that public schools are not Sunday schools and emphasized the importance of protecting the individual right of students and families to choose their own faith or no faith at all.
Patrick Elliott, legal director of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, asserted that the state cannot force religion upon a captive audience of young and impressionable students. Jon Youngwood, global co-chair of the litigation department at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, added that the law inhibits the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights to choose whether and how they engage with religious doctrines.
The lawsuit seeks to protect the religious freedom of Louisiana public schoolchildren and their families, arguing that the law violates the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The plaintiffs hope for a speedy resolution to ensure that Louisiana public schools remain welcoming to all students, regardless of their faith.
The case has garnered national attention, with former President Donald Trump endorsing the Louisiana law and Texas Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick expressing regret that Texas was not the first state to mandate the Ten Commandments in schools. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the separation of church and state in public education across the United States.
Source: ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Freedom from Religion Foundation, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, NBC News, Rolling Stone
