Federal appeals court blocks Louisiana's controversial law regarding public schools which put Christianity at the forefront
A federal appeals court has unanimously blocked Louisiana's controversial law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, marking a significant victory for
civil liberties groups
and families who argued the mandate violated the constitutional separation of church and state.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a lower court's November 2024 decision that deemed the law 'facially unconstitutional' under the First Amendment. The law, enacted this year, required all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges to prominently display a government-approved version of the Ten Commandments, regardless of classroom subject matter. State officials had provided guidelines for the posters, but implementation was suspended pending legal challenges.
'Parents and students challenge a statute requiring public schools to permanently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom in Louisiana,' the court stated. 'The district court found the statute facially unconstitutional and preliminarily enjoined its enforcement. We affirm.' The ruling cited the precedent set by the 1980 Supreme Court case Stone v. Graham, which struck down a similar Kentucky law as unconstitutional.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World
Articles Vally
Civil liberties groups hailed the decision as a crucial safeguard for religious freedom and diversity. 'This is a resounding victory for the separation of church and state and public education,' said Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney with the
American Civil Liberties Union
. 'Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith.' Liz Hayes, spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, added, 'All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution. Thus, all school districts must abide by this decision and should not post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.'
The law had been championed by Republicans, including former President
Donald Trump
, as part of a broader effort to introduce religious displays in public spaces. Supporters argued the Ten Commandments are foundational to U.S. law and history. However, opponents countered that the mandate would isolate non-Christian students and violate their rights.
Live Events
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill
expressed strong disagreement with the ruling, stating her intent to appeal to the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court. The case now moves closer to possible
Supreme Court review
, which could set a national precedent for similar laws in other states.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
No need for moral lessons from MLA Sunil Kumar, says Karnataka minister Laxmi Hebbalkar; defends anganwadi record, blames BJP for distraction protests
Karnataka minister Laxmi Hebbalkar UDUPI: Women and Child Development minister and Udupi District minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on Friday dismissed criticisms made by MLA Sunil Kumar , stating that he lacks the moral authority to lecture others. 'There is no need to learn moral lessons from MLA Sunil Kumar. What does moral authority even mean? Let him first understand morality before lecturing others," said Laxmi Hebbalkar. The minister was responding to Sunil Kumar's allegation that Hebbalkar lacked moral rights to speak on activist Chakravarthy Sulibele. She questioned, 'What does he mean by saying the district minister lacks moral rights? Sunil Kumar speaks well but seems to believe he alone holds all the wisdom and others are fools,' she said. When asked about the number of Anganwadi centres under her department, the Minister responded, 'There are around 69,000 Anganwadi buildings in the state, of which about 12,000 are rented. Do I need to speak everything about Sunil Kumar? You are asking about my department? Come, I will give you all the details,' she said. She added, 'I know exactly how many Anganwadis there are in the state, how many Anganwadi workers are there, how many are functioning from rented buildings, how many are govt-owned, how many are in rural areas, how many in towns, and how many are in poor condition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo I even know how many are in your (Sunil Kumar's) constituency.' Protest is a Constitutional Right 'Protest is a constitutional right. If the opposition has nothing else to do, let them protest. The central govt is being unfair when it comes to development. Let them protest against the injustice by the central govt. NREGA funds were not released. Can they protest about that? The BJP is trying to mislead the public and are protesting to cover up internal party conflicts. This is all BJP's drama. Even BJP workers are tired. Wherever you go, they express dissatisfaction with their leaders. These protests are just a distraction tactic to blame the Congress,' she alleged. Government Not Targeting Anyone On Hindu leaders being targeted and externed, particularly Hindu leader Srikanth Shetty, the Minister said, 'We are not targeting any intellectual or orator. It is important to protect communal harmony in society. No attempt should be made to divide the society. One must review Srikant Shetty's past speeches and the truth will be out,' she said.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Al Udeid Air Base Qatar: Why US is removing its troops from this base in Middle East amid Iran-Israel war
The United States has reportedly removed nearly 40 military aircraft from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar between June 5 and June 19, according to satellite imagery, as the Iran-Israel conflict escalates. This is among the most significant drawdowns at the base, which is the largest American military installation in the Middle East. Security concerns prompt restricted access The U.S. Embassy in Qatar confirmed on Thursday that access to Al Udeid had been limited "out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities." Personnel have been advised to remain alert due to the deteriorating security environment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Dividend Stocks for May 2025 Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo Base's location seen as risky 'Al Udeid would be extremely vulnerable due to its close proximity to Iran,' said Mark Schwartz, a former U.S. Army lieutenant general and defense analyst at the RAND Corporation. 'You want to reduce risk to U.S. forces, both personnel and equipment.' On June 5, satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC showed about 40 aircraft at the base, including C-130 Hercules transport planes and reconnaissance jets. By June 19, only three aircraft remained. Live Events — AhmadAlgohbary (@AhmadAlgohbary) US refuelling aircraft shift to Europe Flight tracking reviewed by AFP showed that between June 15 and June 18, at least 27 military refuelling aircraft, including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers, flew from the U.S. to Europe. Twenty-five of these remained in Europe as of late Wednesday, indicating the U.S. could be positioning assets for extended-range operations. No disclosure of aircraft destination While it is unclear whether the aircraft have been moved to hardened shelters or other bases in the region, a U.S. defense official declined to disclose details, stating: 'We remain committed to maintaining operational security while executing our mission with the highest level of readiness, lethality, and professionalism.' — sentdefender (@sentdefender) US military posture on high alert American forces across the Middle East are on heightened alert. Families stationed at certain military bases have been given the option to evacuate voluntarily. Currently, around 40,000 U.S. troops are stationed across the region, up from a peacetime average of 30,000. Carrier groups redeployed toward Middle East To reinforce its posture, the U.S. is increasing its naval presence. A Navy official confirmed the USS Gerald R. Ford will depart Norfolk, Virginia, on June 24 for a deployment to the U.S. European Command area. The USS Carl Vinson strike group has already been operating in the region, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the USS Nimitz carrier group to head toward the Middle East 'to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel,' according to a senior defense official. White House still deciding on next steps President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will decide within the next two weeks whether to authorize U.S. strikes on Iran. While he has supported Israel's ongoing operations, Trump said there remains a limited window for negotiations. He also remarked that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be an 'easy target.' Trump has previously pushed for a replacement to the 2015 nuclear deal, which he exited in 2018. In recent weeks, he has endorsed Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership. Political resistance builds in Washington Several voices from within Trump's 'Make America Great Again' base have opposed deeper U.S. involvement, warning that such actions risk entangling the country in new long-term conflicts. Israel-Iran clash reaches new intensity The latest military exchange between Israel and Iran is among the most direct and intense in decades. Israel launched Operation Rising Sun, targeting nuclear and military facilities inside Iran. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets. The escalation has raised concerns of a broader regional war and drawn global attention.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Migration surges in and out of Italy, hitting decade-high levels
Italy is witnessing its highest levels of both immigration and emigration in a decade, according to new data released by the country's statistics agency, Istat. The figures highlight growing concerns over labour shortages, brain drain, and demographic shifts. In 2024, 3,82,071 foreigners moved to Italy , slightly up from 3,78,372 in 2023, marking the highest inflow since 2014. At the same time, 1,55,732 Italians left the country, compared to 1,14,057 in the previous year. This is also the highest level of emigration recorded in the last ten years. Together, nearly 2,70,000 Italians emigrated over the past two years: a 40% increase compared to the 2021–2022 period. Immigration over the same time rose 31%, reaching nearly 7,60,000 entries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma Limfoma Pelajari Undo The figures are based on Italy's town registry data and do not include undocumented migration. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Ukrainians accounted for the largest group among new arrivals in the last two years, followed by Albanians, Bangladeshis, Moroccans, Romanians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Argentines, and Tunisians. Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU Schengen limits tighten as Belgium introduces border checks to curb migration Indians' Europe holiday faces a visa traffic jam Mona Lisa will smile from a gallery of her own, but seeing her will cost extra While Italy's right-wing government came to power in 2022 with a pledge to curb irregular migration, it now faces a dual challenge: a shrinking population and rising demand for foreign workers. Labour shortages and economic stagnation have made it difficult to retain citizens, especially younger Italians. According to Istat, low wages are one reason for the rising emigration trend. Italian salaries, when adjusted for inflation, remain lower than they were in 1990. Many Italians are leaving in search of better economic opportunities abroad. Istat noted that some of those counted as emigrants may be former immigrants who acquired Italian citizenship and later moved to other countries. The report also pointed to internal migration within Italy. Calabria-the country's poorest region by income, saw nearly 1% of its population relocate to central or northern Italy in 2023–2024.
