Arkansas politicians passed a law that tries to turn every public-school classroom into a pulpit — and families across the state are fighting back.
This week, a multifaith group of Arkansas families filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new state law that forces every public elementary and secondary school to display a government-selected and government-imposed version of the Ten Commandments in every public-school classroom and library. The law, Act 573, mandates that the text be printed in a large, readable font — at least 16 x 20 inches — and placed in a “conspicuous” location where students can’t avoid it.
Let’s be clear: This is not about history or education. This is about indoctrination — an effort to pressure children into adopting the government’s preferred religious beliefs.
The families who brought this lawsuit in Stinson v. Fayetteville School District No. 1 come from diverse religious backgrounds: Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and nonreligious. They are represented by the ACLU of Arkansas, the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation, with support from pro bono counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
“As American Jews, my husband and I deeply value the ability to raise our children in our faith, without interference from the government,” said Plaintiff Samantha Stinson. “By imposing a Christian-centric translation of the Ten Commandments on our children for nearly every hour of every day of their public-school education, this law will infringe on our rights as parents and create an unwelcoming and religiously coercive school environment for our children.”
The complaint argues that this law violates the First Amendment — both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. And it’s not the first time a court has been asked to weigh in on a law like this.
The Bigger Picture: Louisiana, Arkansas, and Now Texas
Just last year, a federal court ruled in Roake v. Brumley that a nearly identical Louisiana law is unconstitutional. That case — brought by the same legal teams representing Arkansas families — is currently on appeal. And in Texas, lawmakers recently passed their own version of this forced display mandate. The ACLU and civil liberties partners have already announced plans to challenge it in court.
The pattern is clear: political leaders across the South are using public schools as ideological battlegrounds, trying to force religious doctrine on students under the guise of “traditional values.” These efforts are unconstitutional, coercive, and harmful.
“My children are among a small number of Jewish students at their school,” said plaintiff Carol Vella. “The classroom displays required by Act 573 will make them feel like they don’t belong simply because they don’t follow the government’s favored religion. The displays will also violate core Jewish tenets, which emphasize tolerance and inclusion and prohibit evangelizing others.”
What’s At Stake
Posting the Ten Commandments in every public-school classroom — as chosen and dictated by the state, in a version aligned with Protestant doctrine — sends a clear message: that some students and some faiths belong more than others. That’s not just exclusionary. It’s unconstitutional.
This isn’t just a symbolic fight — it’s a deeply personal one. Public-school students are a captive audience. They’re legally required to attend, and they have no choice but to absorb the messages the state places on the walls around them. That makes the First Amendment harm especially grave.
“The right to decide which religious beliefs, if any, to follow belongs to families and faith communities, not the government,” said ACLU of Arkansas Legal Director John Williams. “We will not allow Arkansas politicians to misuse our public schools to impose scripture on children.”
What Comes Next
Alongside their complaint, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction asking the court to block the law before it goes into effect in August. If the law is allowed to stand, it will create an environment where students are coerced into religious observance just to get through the school day.
Heather Weaver, senior counsel at the ACLU, put it bluntly:
“Public schools are not Sunday schools. Apparently, Arkansas politicians need a lesson in the First Amendment, so we’ll see them in court.”
Join the Fight
The ACLU of Arkansas will continue fighting to defend the rights of students, families, and communities across our state. As we take on this challenge — and the battles ahead in Texas and beyond — we need your voice. Stand with us to protect religious freedom for everyone.