Two lawsuits challenge 10 Commandments monument at Arkansas Capitol

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In the ACLU suit, four women who bike and walk past the monument regularly — Donna Cave, Judith Lansky, Pat Piazza, and Susan Russell — say they are offended by the promotion of religion on the Capitol grounds. The lawsuit argues it is a violation of the establishment clause for the state to promote the Christian religion over others.

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Sen. Jason Rapert, a preacher who sponsored legislation to allow the monument, claims it is about the historical basis of law. The ACLU lawsuit details, through Rapert's own words and those of others, who the establishment of this monument and rejection of others is in fact all about declaring primacy for the Christian religion. Funding primarily came from evangelical churches and they were prominently represented at monument unveiling. It was paid with private donations, including four security posts erected because the first one was knocked down by a driver who'd destroyed a similar monument in Oklahoma. He remains under hospitalization at the State Hospital.

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