Lawsuit filed over Arkansas Ten Commandments in classrooms law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Families of students at some school districts in northwest Arkansas are suing over Act 573 of 2025, a law mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms.
The plaintiffs come from diverse backgrounds, some of which are very religious, while others are not, but all argue that the law is unconstitutional.
Ten Commandments, 'In God We Trust' in classrooms is now Arkansas law
When school starts, the Ten Commandments are to be displayed in classrooms across the state. However, the lawsuit seeks to stop the law from taking effect.
John Williams, legal director for the ACLU of Arkansas, said the plaintiffs believe the law violates the U.S. Constitution.
'We think that by posting a religious document for students to view every day when they're in school, that that is an establishment of a preferred religion, and that's against the Establishment Clause,' Williams said.
Williams also said the law violates the free exercise of religion.
USDA approves Arkansas Gov. Sanders' waiver to ban soda, candy from SNAP
Jerry Cox, executive director of the conservative Family Council, supports the law.
'We think that this is a very good law; the purpose of school is to teach young people good values and to teach them about our history,' Cox said.
Cox says that the Ten Commandments are also historical and foundational to Western civilization.
'I think it's undeniable that the Ten Commandments formed the basis for all Western civilization, our laws, our morals, our society,' Cox said.
Williams disagreed, emphasizing the religious nature of the commandments.
'Ten Commandments are not really a basis for law in the United States,' he said.
Cox noted that the commandments are already displayed in various public places.
'We display the Ten Commandments in a lot of public places. They're over there on the grounds of the Capitol, you can find them at the U.S. Supreme Court,' he said.
Lawsuit filed to halt Arkansas law putting 10 Commandments in classrooms
The law is scheduled to take effect Aug. 5, before the new school year begins.
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