House Bill 1243

Background: House Bill 1243 would require the display of the state motto in public schools and provide for associated legal representation.

Our Stance: The ACLU of South Dakota opposes House Bill 1243.

The ACLU has long worked to protect the religious exercise and religious expression rights of students of all faiths in public schools. But there’s a stark difference between voluntary, student-initiated religious exercise and school-sponsored promotion of religion. Requiring "Under God the People Rule" to be displayed violates the First Amendment's promise of religious freedom.