Louisiana has become the first state to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in its public schools.
The legislation was signed into law Wednesday by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.
Louisiana isn’t the first state to propose such a bill, but it is the first sign it into law.
Under the new law, every public classroom from kindergarten to state-funded universities would be required to display a poster size display of the Ten Commandments in a “large, easily readable font”.
The controversial law, which will take effect in 2025, will also allow the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence to be displayed, but they will not be required.
State funds would not be used for the posters, instead they would be paid for through donations.
Backlash has been swift.
“The law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional,” Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a joint statement.
“The First Amendment promises that we all get to decide for ourselves what religious beliefs, if any, to hold and practice, without pressure from the government. Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools.”
“If you want to respect the rule of law, you gotta start from the original law given which was Moses. … He got his commandments from God,” Landry said of the new law.
What are your thoughts on this new law? Should other states consider something similar? Let us know in the comments!
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