Louisiana governor says kids can just not 'look' at Ten Commandments, files to dismiss challenge

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) said in a press conference Monday that parents who are unhappy with the Ten Commandments getting posted in public school classrooms should tell their child "not to look at them."

Landry announced the state was moving to dismiss the legal challenge that has been brought by civil rights advocacy groups after he signed a law mandating posters of the Ten Commandments be placed in a large, easily readable font in every public classroom in the state.

When asked by a reporter what parents who are neither religious nor happy with the decision should do, he replied that if they are offended by the Ten Commandments, “tell your child not to look at them.” 

"Really and truly, I don't see what the whole big fuss is about," Landry said.

The law was immediately challenged by a group of parents of various faith backgrounds and by civil liberty groups who argue the measure violates the separation of church and state.  

"The law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional. The First Amendment promises that we all get to decide for ourselves what religious beliefs, if any, to hold and practice, without pressure from the government. Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools,” the American Civil Liberties Union said. 

Louisiana officials had earlier agreed to delay implementing the posters as the legal challenge plays out.