Louisiana officials have unveiled multiple options for posters of the Ten Commandments. Under a new state law, the posters must be prominently displayed in all public school classrooms starting this school year.
In a news conference Monday, Aug. 5, Louisiana’s governor and attorney general showed off the posters which feature House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the hit musical “Hamilton.”
The posters are not the final versions that will be required in all classrooms — they’re mock-ups to show ways that schools can comply with the law. Other potential posters include quotes from former Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Louisiana’s attorney general said the posters “illustrate that there are constitutional ways to apply this law.”
A group of parents and civil rights organizations are suing to block the law. They argue requiring a religious text in all classrooms violates the establishment clause of the Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry was asked what he has to say to parents who don’t think the Ten Commandments should be displayed in schools.
“If those posters are in school and they find them so vulgar then tell your child not to look at it,” he responded.
Louisiana’s AG said Monday that the state will move to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds no one has been harmed because the law is not yet in effect.
A federal court previously said the state cannot issue advice, rules or regulations about the Ten Commandments requirement until at least Nov. 15 as the case makes its way through the court system.
