Implemented Earlier This Year, Parents File Lawsuit in Protest
Trump Supports the Law: "The World Has Gone Crazy"
A U.S. federal court has halted a Louisiana state law that mandated the display of the Christian Ten Commandments in every public school classroom.
According to Yonhap News, citing reports from the Associated Press and other U.S. media on June 20 (local time), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the law must be suspended, determining that it violates the principle of separation of church and state as stipulated by the U.S. Constitution.
This decision upholds the ruling made by the lower district federal court in November of last year.
Previously, in June of last year, Louisiana enacted a law requiring that posters of the Ten Commandments, printed in large and easily readable letters, be displayed in every classroom and lecture hall of all public schools, from kindergarten through state universities. The law went into effect earlier this year.
However, some parents filed a lawsuit, arguing that the law infringes on the freedom of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment and violates the principle that the government should not endorse any particular religion. Their lawsuit was supported by several civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
It is widely expected that Louisiana will appeal this appellate court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Therefore, the final legal judgment is likely to be made by the Supreme Court.
Local media are focusing on the potential impact of the current U.S. Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority of 6 to 3, on this case. The Supreme Court previously ruled a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional in 1980.
Former President Donald Trump expressed his support for the bill when it became a nationwide controversy ahead of last year's presidential election. At the time, Trump stated, "'Thou shalt not steal' is truly a great lesson," and argued, "There are people who say you shouldn't display these Ten Commandments, but the world has gone crazy."
U.S. media reported that, as of now, it is unclear how many schools have actually implemented the law or what measures have been taken against schools that have not complied.
In Arkansas, where the Republican Party controls both the state government and the legislature, a similar bill requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms and libraries was passed in April.
In response, civil rights organizations such as the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSC), and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) jointly filed a lawsuit on behalf of Arkansas families. As in Louisiana, they argue that the law infringes on residents' constitutional rights.
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