Louisiana has become the first U.
S. state to mandate that every public school classroom, from elementary schools to universities, must display a poster of the Ten Commandments. The Republican-backed legislation, signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry on Wednesday, positions the commandments as "the foundational documents of our state and national government."
This new law is poised to face challenges from civil rights groups, who argue that it violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which ensures the separation of church and state. The clause explicitly states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
The law stipulates that the posters must feature the Ten Commandments in "large, easily readable font" on an 11-inch by 14-inch display. Furthermore, the commandments must be the "central focus" of the poster, which will also include a four-paragraph "context statement" highlighting the historical significance of the commandments in American public education over nearly three centuries.
Despite the requirement for these posters to be displayed in all state-funded classrooms by 2025, the state has not allocated funding to cover the costs of producing and distributing them.
This legislation is part of a broader trend, with similar laws being proposed in other Republican-led states such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah. The move reignites ongoing legal debates about the presence of religious symbols in public spaces, including schools, courthouses, and police stations.
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