NIA Speaks at the Statehouse to Oppose Religious Displays in Schools
Northern Indiana Atheists (NIA) member Maggie Winans will go before the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development to read testimony today and urge them to vote against IN SB131. This Christian Nationalist bill would force each Indiana public school to prominently display an “In God We Trust” sign in every classroom and library in the state. Mandating these religious displays in schools is exclusionary and unfair. Our schools should be free from religious coercion based upon a particular set of beliefs.
The bill was introduced on Monday, January 6, by notorious Republican Dennis Kruse, and a Senate Committee on Education and Career Development hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, January 8—an obvious attempt to sneak the bill unnoticed.
The testimony Maggie will read was written by Allison Gill, Esq., Vice President, Legal and Policy at American Atheists, while logistics and strategic help was supplied by Samantha McGuire, National Field Director at American Atheists. Without Maggie’s dedication along with the quick work of Allison and Samantha, NIA would not have been able to make our voice heard in Indiana today. On behalf of our members and allies in the community, we want to say a big thank you to all of them.
Bill Summary: National motto in schools. Provides that each school corporation and charter school shall place a durable poster or framed picture representing: (1) the national motto of the United States, "In God We Trust"; (2) an accurate representation of the United States flag; and (3) an accurate representation of the Indiana state flag; in each school library and classroom within the school corporation or charter school. Specifies the size requirements for the poster or framed picture and the national motto and flags of the United States and state of Indiana.
Bill Text: Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:SECTION 1. IC 20-30-3-5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2020]: Sec. 5. (a) Subject to subsection (b), each school corporation and charter school shall place a durable poster or framed picture representing: (1) the national motto of the United States, "In God We Trust"; and (2) an accurate representation of the: (A) United States flag; and (B) Indiana state flag; which shall be positioned under the national motto described in subdivision (1); in each school library and classroom within the school corporation or charter school. (b) The durable poster or framed picture described in subsection (a) must be at least eleven (11) inches in height by seventeen (17) inches in width. The dimensions of the national motto, United States flag, and Indiana state flag described in subsection (a) must be as follows:(1) The national motto described in subsection (a)(1) must be at least four (4) inches in height by fifteen (15) inches in width and include print large enough to fill the dimensions established by this subdivision. (2) Each of the flags described in subsection (a)(2) must be at least five (5) inches in height by five (5) inches in width.(c) The durable poster or framed picture described in subsection (a) may be acquired as follows:(1) Donated to the school corporation or charter school. (2) Purchased with funds made available to the school corporation or charter school through voluntary contributions. (3) Purchased directly by the school corporation or charter school.2020 IN 131—LS 6105/DI 110
Northern Indiana Atheists is a nonprofit established to fight state/church violations on a local level and defend the rights of atheists and other marginalized communities across Northern Indiana.
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