Ten Commandments Monument (Little Rock, Arkansas)

The Ten Commandments Monument is an outdoor monument installed on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the United States. The monument is being challenged as unconstitutional by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU says that the monument demonstrates a religious preference, violating the First Amendment and the religious preference prohibition clause of the Arkansas State Constitution.

Ten Commandments Monument
34°44′45.3″N 92°17′23.6″W
LocationLittle Rock, Arkansas
MaterialGranite
Opening dateJune 27, 2017
Restored dateApril 26, 2018

Initial installation

The monument was erected on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds on 27 June 2017, then destroyed within 24 hours of its installation.[1][2][3] The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which had criticized the erection of the Arkansas monument on public government property, also criticized the illegal destruction of the monument. In a news release, FFRF stated: "FFRF does not condone violating the Constitution by erecting a Ten Commandments monument on the Arkansas Capitol grounds. Nor do we condone breaking the law to remove such a display."[4]

Following private fundraising from State Senator and Christian minister Jason Rapert, the monument was replaced on April 26, 2018.[5] In protest against the monument, The Satanic Temple offered to donate a bronze sculpture of Baphomet as a symbol of religious pluralism and freedom. The statue of goat-headed Baphomet was blocked because of a 2017 Arkansas law that requires legislative sponsorship for consideration of any monument.[6] According to the Satanic Temple, the state legislature's rejecting one monument while allowing the other demonstrates an illegal religious preference.[5] The Satanic Temple briefly exhibited their statue at the Capitol on August 16, 2018.[7][6] State senator Rapert told THV 11 news that he "respects everyone's right to free speech under the First Amendment." But, he continued, "It will be a very cold day in hell before an offensive statue will be forced upon us to be permanently erected on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol".[8] After the request to install the Baphomet statue was refused, in an alleged violation of the Equal Protection Clause, Satanic Temple members were granted legal standing to challenge the Ten Commandments monument.[9]

The monument is being challenged as unconstitutional by the American Civil Liberties Union.[5] The ACLU says that the monument demonstrates a religious preference, violating the First Amendment and the religious preference prohibition clause of the Arkansas State Constitution. The Freedom from Religion Foundation, the American Humanist Association, and the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers are also involved in litigation to challenge the monument.[10]

See also

References
  1. Burnside, Tina (2015-09-01). "Arkansas Ten Commandments monument damaged; suspect in custody". CNN. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  2. "Arkansas' Ten Commandments monument destroyed by vehicle". CBS News. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  3. "Man destroys new Ten Commandments statue at Arkansas Capitol". Los Angeles Times. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  4. FFRF, FFRF. "FFRF touts rule of law in Arkansas commandments case". Freedom From Religion Foundation. Freedom From Religion Foundation. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  5. Bleed, Jill; DeMillo, Andrew (April 26, 2018). "Arkansas Replaces Ten Commandments Monument at State Capitol". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  6. Grabenstein, Hanna. "Arkansas State governments Religion Satanic Temple unveils Baphomet statue at Arkansas Capitol". Associated Press News. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  7. Romo, Vanessa. "Satanic Temple Protests Ten Commandments Monument With Goat-Headed Statue". North Carolina Public Radio. NPR. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  8. THV11, THV11. "Sen. Rapert says 'very cold day in hell' before Baphomet statue allowed on capitol grounds". THV11 News. Youtube. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  9. Satanic Temple cleared to enter the 10 Commandments lawsuit Arkansas Times December 18, 2018.
  10. FFRF and ACLU Sue Arkansas Over 10 Commandments Monument Patheos May 23, 2018.
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