Latest news with #AmericanCivilLibertiesUnionofTexas
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas set to mandate Ten Commandments in classrooms as ACLU vows to sue
Texas is set to become the largest state in the nation to mandate that every public school classroom display a copy of the Ten Commandments, with advocates fearing a further erosion of church and state and the legislation's sponsor making clear that's a separation she doesn't believe in. While Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has not yet signed the measure, which comes as red states are increasingly seeking to inject Christianity into public education, he told lawmakers in early May to 'get this bill to my desk. I'll make it law.' Under the legislation, beginning September 1, every school in Texas will be required to display a 16 inch by 20 inch poster of the Ten Commandments. While they won't be required to buy them with district funds, they will be required to display them if donated. The legislation also effectively creates an official state version of the Ten Commandments, because only one specific iteration meets the new statute: a King James Bible-derived list of 'Thou shalt nots' that is used by many Baptists and evangelicals but not by a majority of Catholics, Jews, protestants or Eastern Orthodox Christians. Critics argue the bill is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from creating a state religion. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas on Wednesday announced it would sue. 'S.B. 10 is blatantly unconstitutional. We will be working with Texas public school families to prepare a lawsuit to stop this violation of students' and parents' First Amendment rights,' the ACLU wrote, calling the measure 'religiously coercive.' Supporters of the bill, meanwhile, appeal to a letter from Thomas Jefferson which seems to leave open the possibility of state regulation of religion, though so far, courts haven't agreed: A similar bill in Louisiana was blocked in November after being ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. The Texas bill is one of a broad array of public policy proposals pushed by an alliance of groups that seek a broader role for evangelical Christianity in public life. A prior state measure, passed in 2021, required schools to display 'in God we Trust' placards in every classroom. Neighboring Arkansas passed its own Ten Commandments bill in April. In a nod to the legal risks, amendments to the Texas measure require the state attorney general, currently Republican Ken Paxton, to defend at state expense any school district sued over compliance. This week, the Texas legislature also passed a bill permitting prayer in public schools and stripping language that forbids teachers from 'encouraging' students to participate. That measure also obligates the office of the state attorney general to help schools set up a prayer program, and — like the Ten Commandments bill — to defend any legal challenges to it at public expense. During debates over passage, bill sponsor state Rep. Candy Noble insisted that it was not a religious measure but meant to instruct students about the historical importance she says the Ten Commandments hold in American democracy. 'This bill is about honoring our historical educational and judicial heritage with the discipline of the Ten Commandments,' Noble said in a Sunday exchange with Rep. James Talarico (D), a self-described evangelical who opposed the bill. Over the past two months, Talarico and Noble's verbal duels over the bill have served as an intra-evangelical debate over the role of Christianity in public life. 'We established that our founding fathers wanted a separation of church and state,' Talarico began in one April committee hearing, before Noble cut him off. 'I did not establish that,' she said. 'I absolutely did not establish that. That's a historical fact that I disagree with.' In his opposition to the bill, Talarico repeatedly argued that displaying the Ten Commandments was itself a religious violation: a contradiction of St. Paul's dictum in Romans that all the commandments could be 'summed up in this sentence, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' He argued it was not neighborly to signal to Jews, Muslims, Hindus or members of other Christian denominations that they didn't belong. That's a read Noble emphatically pushed back on. If these people were Americans, she said, 'maybe it would make them curious about what made our forefathers tick. Maybe it will help them wonder 'How can I treat others better? Maybe it will help them ask their parents questions on 'Why should I be under your authority?' 'Maybe we can take that tack with it instead of the negative tack that you're taking with it,' she added. In debates over the bill, Noble repeatedly argued that 'our classrooms are crying out for moral guidance,' though she went back and forth on whether teachers would be required to interpret the Ten Commandments for students. In a viral moment from the debate, Talarico pressed her on why representatives were working over the weekend — the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths — in violation of the Fourth Commandment. 'Is that ironic or what?' Noble asked, before explaining the importance of God's decision to take a day of rest, and contending that Talarico's own opposition to the bill had pushed debate to the weekend. 'Do you think that members of the legislature should focus more on trying to follow the Ten Commandments rather than telling others to follow them?' Talarico asked. 'It is incumbent on all of us to follow God's law,' Noble said. 'And I think that we would be better off if we did.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Texas set to mandate Ten Commandments in classrooms as ACLU vows to sue
Texas is set to become the largest state in the nation to mandate that every public school classroom display a copy of the Ten Commandments, with advocates fearing a further erosion of church and state and the legislation's sponsor making clear that's a separation she doesn't believe in. While Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has not yet signed the measure, which comes as red states are increasingly seeking to inject Christianity into public education, he told lawmakers in early May to 'get this bill to my desk. I'll make it law.' Under the legislation, beginning September 1, every school in Texas will be required to display a 16 inch by 20 inch poster of the Ten Commandments. While they won't be required to buy them with district funds, they will be required to display them if donated. The legislation also effectively creates an official state version of the Ten Commandments, because only one specific iteration meets the new statute: a King James Bible-derived list of 'Thou shalt nots' that is used by many Baptists and evangelicals but not by a majority of Catholics, Jews, protestants or Eastern Orthodox Christians. Critics argue the bill is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from creating a state religion. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas on Wednesday announced it would sue. 'S.B. 10 is blatantly unconstitutional. We will be working with Texas public school families to prepare a lawsuit to stop this violation of students' and parents' First Amendment rights,' the ACLU wrote, calling the measure 'religiously coercive.' Supporters of the bill, meanwhile, appeal to a letter from Thomas Jefferson which seems to leave open the possibility of state regulation of religion, though so far, courts haven't agreed: A similar bill in Louisiana was blocked in November after being ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. The Texas bill is one of a broad array of public policy proposals pushed by an alliance of groups that seek a broader role for evangelical Christianity in public life. A prior state measure, passed in 2021, required schools to display 'in God we Trust' placards in every classroom. Neighboring Arkansas passed its own Ten Commandments bill in April. In a nod to the legal risks, amendments to the Texas measure require the state attorney general, currently Republican Ken Paxton, to defend at state expense any school district sued over compliance. This week, the Texas legislature also passed a bill permitting prayer in public schools and stripping language that forbids teachers from 'encouraging' students to participate. That measure also obligates the office of the state attorney general to help schools set up a prayer program, and — like the Ten Commandments bill — to defend any legal challenges to it at public expense. During debates over passage, bill sponsor state Rep. Candy Noble insisted that it was not a religious measure but meant to instruct students about the historical importance she says the Ten Commandments hold in American democracy. 'This bill is about honoring our historical educational and judicial heritage with the discipline of the Ten Commandments,' Noble said in a Sunday exchange with Rep. James Talarico (D), a self-described evangelical who opposed the bill. Over the past two months, Talarico and Noble's verbal duels over the bill have served as an intra-evangelical debate over the role of Christianity in public life. 'We established that our founding fathers wanted a separation of church and state,' Talarico began in one April committee hearing, before Noble cut him off. 'I did not establish that,' she said. 'I absolutely did not establish that. That's a historical fact that I disagree with.' In his opposition to the bill, Talarico repeatedly argued that displaying the Ten Commandments was itself a religious violation: a contradiction of St. Paul's dictum in Romans that all the commandments could be 'summed up in this sentence, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' He argued it was not neighborly to signal to Jews, Muslims, Hindus or members of other Christian denominations that they didn't belong. That's a read Noble emphatically pushed back on. If these people were Americans, she said, 'maybe it would make them curious about what made our forefathers tick. Maybe it will help them wonder 'How can I treat others better? Maybe it will help them ask their parents questions on 'Why should I be under your authority?' 'Maybe we can take that tack with it instead of the negative tack that you're taking with it,' she added. In debates over the bill, Noble repeatedly argued that 'our classrooms are crying out for moral guidance,' though she went back and forth on whether teachers would be required to interpret the Ten Commandments for students. In a viral moment from the debate, Talarico pressed her on why representatives were working over the weekend — the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths — in violation of the Fourth Commandment. 'Is that ironic or what?' Noble asked, before explaining the importance of God's decision to take a day of rest, and contending that Talarico's own opposition to the bill had pushed debate to the weekend. 'Do you think that members of the legislature should focus more on trying to follow the Ten Commandments rather than telling others to follow them?' Talarico asked. 'It is incumbent on all of us to follow God's law,' Noble said. 'And I think that we would be better off if we did.'
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas strips protections for teachers, parents who share 'obscene' material with children
LUFKIN — A heated debate on the Texas House floor erupted Friday morning over a bill poised to become law that critics say criminalizes educators and parents. Senate Bill 412, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Galveston Republican, removes legal protections for adults who provide material to children that could be considered harmful. It is now on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk after a final 92-39 vote. Under current law, educators, doctors and parents are protected from criminal charges by a legal rule called 'affirmative defense,' which allows them to say materials were used to teach children. The bill removes this protection. 'It makes it easier to prosecute not just educators or librarians, but also parents and medical professionals, while simultaneously adding vagueness to the definition of what is prohibited,' said Caro Achar, the engagement coordinator for free speech for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, a civil rights organization. The bill also eliminates affirmative defenses for individuals charged with sexual performance by a child, which is when a child is encouraged by an adult to do actual sexual conduct. Opponents of the bill did not debate this section, but focused instead on the bill's impact on educators. Critics say the bill will lead teachers and librarians to remove any materials out of fear it could be seen as too mature, leading to criminal charges. Supporters say it is a crucial next step in protecting Texas children. 'Teachers and librarians that intentionally, knowingly or recklessly expose children to harmful content should be in fear in the state of Texas,' said Rep. Mitch Little, a Lewisville Republican. The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, promised his skeptical colleagues that adults with legitimate cases to share material with educational value had nothing to fear. The works in question would be subject to the Miller Test, a three-prong legal standard used by U.S. courts to determine obscenity. 'What we're talking about here is a perversion in extreme content that's got to meet all three of these criteria laid out in this bill. It's got to be pretty extreme,' Patterson said. 'And unfortunately, we have seen some extreme examples in our public schools, and I do believe that it would affect some of those.' The legislation is part of the growing tension between groups seeking to protect children from materials they believe are harmful to their development and those who worry about the impact of banning books. In 2024, organized conservative movements sought to remove books from schools and libraries 821 times, according to the American Library Association, a national library advocacy organization. There were nearly 2,500 books challenged in those efforts. Likewise, in Texas and across the country, lawmakers are also passing laws restricting the types of materials available in public libraries and schools. Critics say they are directly targeting books with LGBTQ+ themes and related to racism and those that feature characters of color. In Texas, a bill to ban all sexually explicit books in public school libraries is expected to be heard by the House's public education committee on Tuesday. It is one of several on the table to ban certain literature outright. 'This is, I think, a more roundabout book ban,' Achar said, referring to the Senate bill that passed Friday. 'Even though it's not explicitly listing materials, it will have a chilling effect. It will deter teachers and parents and educators from using any materials that could qualify for criminal prosecution, because no one wants to take that risk.' House Republicans who voted for the bill said it offers much-needed protection for children who are exposed to sexually explicit and morally wrong materials that in any other setting would be illegal. 'I want you to ask yourself before you vote, are the morals in this country going up or down?' asked Rep. Matt Morgan, a Richmond Republican. 'If you think they're going down, then there are changes we need to make to help our children. You can't unsee the images that are in these books. You can't unread these words. And so for that reason, I ask you to please vote for the bill.' House Democrats who rejected the bill, including state Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Rowlett, said the bill is too vague. They say it would result in teachers and librarians living in fear of the consequences of what materials they do allow children to access. The 'chilling effect' would cause educators to remove works such as 'Hamlet,' 'The Scarlet Letter,' 'Brave New World' and even the Bible — all of which have elements of sexuality. 'Protecting children does not mean shielding them from reality,' said Bowers. 'It means giving them the tools to understand it, to navigate it and to grow into compassionate, informed and engaged citizens.' Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Attacks the Supreme Court, Says America ‘Cannot Give Everyone a Trial'
Donald Trump slammed the Supreme Court on Monday after the justices temporarily blocked him from deporting Venezuelan immigrants, while asserting that America 'cannot give everyone a trial' — a bedrock constitutional right. The high court over the weekend took up an emergency petition from the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which warned that Trump's administration was preparing to deport another group of Venezuelan immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act without giving them a reasonable opportunity to contest their removals. Trump previously shipped hundreds of Venezuelan men, without due process, to a notorious torture prison in El Salvador. He did so after invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a notorious wartime law used to justify the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Trump claims he can use the law to deport Venezuelans who are allegedly members of gangs that he has deemed terrorist organizations — and his administration claims it doesn't have to bring anyone back, even when courts say to do so. The Supreme Court, which conservatives control 6-3, ruled earlier this month that the Trump administration must notify immigrants he's detained under the Alien Enemies Act that they are subject to removal under the act. Further, the justices wrote: 'The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs.' The ACLU warned the administration is not complying with that order — and was giving many of the Venezuelan detainees fewer than 24 hours to challenge their removals. Many of them were reportedly already placed on buses headed to the airport. While lower courts refused to step in, the Supreme Court issued an order blocking the deportations 'until further order of this court,' inviting Trump's solicitor general to file a response to the ACLU's application with the court. Trump, who last month said it 'should be illegal' to criticize the Supreme Court, lashed out at the justices on Monday. 'I'm doing what I was elected to do, remove criminals from our Country, but the Courts don't seem to want me to do that,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'My team is fantastic, doing an incredible job, however, they are being stymied at every turn by even the U.S. Supreme Court, which I have such great respect for, but which seemingly doesn't want me to send violent criminals and terrorists back to Venezuela, or any other Country, for that matter.' The president claimed it would be impossible to extend due process rights — as required under the Fifth Amendment — to all of the immigrants he wants to deport. 'We cannot give everyone a trial, because to do so would take, without exaggeration, 200 years,' he wrote. 'We would need hundreds of thousands of trials for the hundreds of thousands of Illegals we are sending out of the Country. Such a thing is not possible to do. What a ridiculous situation we are in.' As president, Trump helped build a 6-3 conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court. Those justices, in turn, helped clear the way for Trump to win the presidency again. First, the justices unanimously ruled that states couldn't bar him from their ballots for helping incite a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Next, the court stalled Trump's federal prosecution over his effort to overturn the 2020 election — and the conservative majority further gutted the case when it ruled that Trump was entitled to sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution. Trump repeatedly thanked the conservative Supreme Court justices, by name, at 2024 campaign events, and he effusively thanked Chief Justice John Roberts just last month, following his address to Congress. 'Thank you again,' Trump told him, adding: 'I won't forget.' Now that the Supreme Court expects Trump to afford immigrants basic due process rights before shipping them to prison in El Salvador, he appears to have quickly forgotten what the justices did for him. More from Rolling Stone George Clooney Is Obviously Not Bothered by Trump Attacks: 'I Don't Care' Rich People and Corporations Help Trump Shatter Record for Inauguration Cash Haul Who Will Pay for the Damage That DOGE Has Done to Our Veterans? Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Large puppets used to celebrate immigrants in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A show involving 'larger-than-life' puppets celebrated immigrants and sought to educate the audience, its organizers aid. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, its artist-in-residence Kill Joy and the Kitchen Table Puppets and Press troupe teamed up for a performance Saturday evening, April 5 at the Falstaff collaborative space in South-Central El Paso. 'The two-week tour across Texas features larger-than-life puppets that celebrate the resilience of immigrant communities amid escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. The tour aims to educate audiences about their constitutional rights by sharing Know Your Rights materials. Performances will culminate in a night market, where audiences can support local artists, small businesses, and advocacy organizations,' said a news release announcing the performance. The tour will also bring awareness to the stories of Texas families torn apart by anti-immigrant policies, according to the ACLU Texas website. After performing in El Paso, the tour will make stops in Houston (April 8), Austin (April 10), and San Antonio (April 15). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
