Activist fundraises to send Arabic "In God We Trust" signs to Texas schools
The Texas state flag flies in the air near an oil refinery on Jan. 21, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Photo: Brandon Bell via Getty Images
A Florida activist is fundraising to donate Arabic "In God We Trust" signs to Texas schools after a state law was enacted to require signs with the U.S. motto in public schools.
Why it matters: Critics have called the statute, which mandates that schools display the signs in a "conspicuous place" if they are donated, an attempt to reinforce Christian nationalist values across the state.
- The signs must "contain a representation of the United States flag centered under the national motto and a representation of the state flag." No other words, images or information are allowed.
Driving the news: Chaz Stevens, from Boca Raton, Fla., launched the GoFundMe page this week to "voice our dissent" with the law, according to a message posted on the fundraising platform.
- He says he plans to flood Texas schools with "hundreds" of donations of Arabic-language "In God We Trust" posters.
- "[W]e will not be silent while evangelical Christians stomp our collective rights."
By the numbers: The fundraiser, which was first reported by the Dallas Morning News, has raised over $18,000 as of Thursday evening.
The big picture: Several states have passed similar laws requiring the display of the motto in recent years.
- Opponents argue that such laws impose religion on students and subvert expectations that schools remain secular.