Texas School District paints over Ten Commandments following legal threats from atheist group

Jardine Malado Friday, September 30, 2016

A school district in Texas has painted over a Ten Commandments mural at an area high school after an atheist activist group sent a letter of complaint stating that the mural infringes on religious freedom.

"After consultation with legal counsel, community members and students, I have decided as the Superintendent of O'Donnell ISD that the Ten Commandment mural will no longer be on display beginning Sept. 16, 2016," Dr. Cathy Amonett, Superintendent of O'Donnell Independent School District, said in a statement, KCBD reports.

Ten Commandments monument at the Mower County Courthouse in Austin, Minnesota. | Wikimedia Commons/Jonathunder

Amonett received the letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) earlier this month. The FFRF demanded the removal of the Ten Commandments mural as well as the scripture displayed on the wall of O'Donnell High School.

"By displaying a religious message in its entryway, O'Donnell ISD infringes on its students' constitutionally protected religious freedom," the FFRF wrote, adding, "By endorsing a religious message, the school district violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."

After receiving the letter, Amonett had the mural covered with a black paper but it was allegedly torn down by students in protest. It was later covered up with the American Flag. The students posted sticky notes with Bible verses on the wall to challenge the removal of the mural.

About 100 residents, many of whom were in favor of keeping the mural, attended a public meeting regarding the controversy. Amonett decided to paint over the mural despite the support from the residents to avoid a lawsuit.

"Although the district's students and community members strongly support the preservation of the mural as it is, I have decided that its continued display in the commons area of the school is not in the district's best legal interests," she stated.

She commended the students for standing up for their beliefs and expressing themselves in a mature way. She explained that the current legal climate in the United States would not allow the school to continue displaying the mural.

Prior to the removal of the mural, Texas Senator Charles Perry issued a statement in support of the students. He cited the case of the Kountze Cheerleaders who were forbidden from putting Bible verses on their banners. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the cheerleaders in January.