Celebrate Court Victory for Religious Freedom in Arkansas

A federal court has struck down an extreme Arkansas law that would have forced public schools to display a government-selected, Protestant version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom and library. This ruling is a powerful win for religious freedom, church-state separation, and the rights of all families to decide their own faith traditions.

In Stinson v. Fayetteville School District No. 1, Judge Timothy Brooks ruled that Arkansas Act 573 is “plainly unconstitutional,” warning it would subject children to years of government-imposed religious messaging and infringe on parents’ rights to guide their children’s spiritual education. The decision protects students of all faiths — and no faith — from unconstitutional religious coercion in public schools.

This victory was made possible by the courage of multifaith and nonreligious Arkansas families, represented by the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and pro bono legal teams. They fought to ensure that public schools remain places for learning, not preaching.

Add your name to celebrate this major win for the First Amendment and stand up for the right of every student to learn free from government-imposed religion.