The plaintiffs argue the newly passed law is unconstitutional and violates parents’ and children’s First Amendment freedoms.
DALLAS — A coalition of Texas faith leaders filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday seeking to block a new state law that requires the Ten Commandments to be prominently displayed in every public school classroom.
The lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 10 — signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 22 and set to take effect Sept. 1 — arguing it violates both the U.S. and Texas Constitutions by imposing religious doctrine on students of all faiths or none.
The plaintiffs include faith leaders of Christian and Nation of Islam congregations, who are suing on behalf of their school-aged children who attend public schools. They are suing Texas Education (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath, the Texas Education Agency, and the Dallas, DeSoto, and Lancaster ISD school boards.
“The government should govern; the Church should minister,” plaintiff Bishop Gerald Weatherall said in the filing. “Anything else is a threat to the soul of both our democracy and our faith.”
Under the new law, every public-school classroom must display a state-approved version of the Ten Commandments in at least 16-by-20-inch type, positioned “in a conspicuous place” and legible from anywhere in the room.
The filing argues this display constitutes an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, directly violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, commonly referred to as the separation of church and state. The lawsuit also cites the Supreme Court decision in Stone v. Graham that deemed similar classroom mandates as unconstitutional.
The plaintiffs, including Minister Dominique Alexander, claim the mandated displays interfere with their personal religious beliefs or lack thereof.
Minister Al-Shaheed Muhammad, who is raising his children in the Nation of Islam, said in the complaint that S.B. 10 will “undermine and interfere” with his ability to teach his children the tenets of Islam and could make them feel isolated or coerced in predominantly non-Muslim classrooms.
The plaintiffs in the case are seeking for the courts to declare the law unconstitutional and halt its enforcement across the state by the TEA.
Advocates of the bill, like State Senator Bob Hall, R-Rockwall, argue that the Ten Commandments should serve as a moral framework for Texas students.
“They’re pretty good guidance no matter who you are,” the Republican told WFAA on Inside Texas Politics. “I see no problem with people being exposed to the right way to live.”
A similar law in Louisiana was blocked last year after a federal judge declared it unconstitutional.
DeSoto ISD sent WFAA a full statement in the wake of the lawsuit, saying in part, “At this time, the district is closely monitoring the legal proceedings and guidance surrounding S.B. 10. As with all emerging legislation, DeSoto ISD will work in consultation with its legal counsel and governing agencies to ensure that any required actions are implemented responsibly, with the best interest of students and families at the center.”