1. United States
2. Letter

I write to call your attention to a grave violation of the United States Constitution. The State of Texas has passed a law mandating that every public school classroom display the Christian Ten Commandments. This law stands in direct and undeniable conflict with the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion by prohibiting government from establishing, endorsing, or favoring any particular faith. A state mandate requiring religious texts to be displayed in every public school classroom is not neutrality—it is government-imposed religion. Such a law infringes upon the rights of students, educators, and families of all backgrounds, forcing them to learn and work in an environment where the state elevates one faith tradition above all others. This is not a question of tradition or history. It is a clear violation of long-standing constitutional precedent, which has consistently held that public schools may not promote or impose religious doctrine. The rights of religious minorities, non-believers, and all who rely upon the neutrality of government in matters of faith are being trampled by this legislation. The Supreme Court has long stood as the final guardian of constitutional freedoms. At this moment, it is imperative to reaffirm the First Amendment’s promise of religious liberty for all Americans, not just those of one tradition. The eyes of the nation are upon you. I urge you to act decisively to strike down this unconstitutional mandate and preserve the wall of separation between church and state—one of the bedrock principles of our democracy.