Argyle ISD named in new class-action suit over Ten Commandments displays
A class-action lawsuit challenges Texas school districts, including Argyle ISD, over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms as mandated by Senate Bill 10.Summary
A coalition of 18 Texas families representing diverse faith backgrounds and nonreligious individuals has filed a federal class-action lawsuit, *Ashby v. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal ISD*, against dozens of school districts, including Argyle ISD, to block the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This action stems from Senate Bill 10, which requires such displays. The ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation are representing the plaintiffs, arguing the mandated displays violate the First Amendment rights of students and families by promoting a state-endorsed religious doctrine.
Argyle ISD stated they have not yet been notified of the lawsuit. Despite previous rulings by two federal judges deeming S.B. 10 unconstitutional and issuing injunctions in over two dozen districts, many schools have continued to implement or plan to implement the displays. Plaintiffs, like Mari Gottlieb, express concerns about religious indoctrination and coercion.
The Attorney General’s office defends the law, arguing the Ten Commandments are a part of American history and heritage, and that the displays are merely “passive” and do not constitute coercion. Civil liberties attorneys argue that continued implementation despite court rulings necessitates the class action, emphasizing that individuals, not the government, should determine religious practice. The case is currently filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, with appeals scheduled before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in January.
(Source：Cross Timbers Gazette)