Amarillo City Council has approved a resolution authorizing the acceptance of donations for the construction and placement of a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of City Hall.
The resolution recognizes that the Ten Commandments, as found in the Bible, as an important component of the legal and historical foundation of the laws and legal system of the United States, the State of Texas, and the City of Amarillo.
The council further noted that courts across the United States and in various states have frequently cited the Ten Commandments in published judicial decisions.
Additionally, numerous public buildings and public spaces throughout the nation display monuments or depictions of the Ten Commandments, including the grounds of the Texas State Capitol.
The city council expressed that, in order for citizens to understand and appreciate the foundational principles of the American system of government, it is important to recognize the Ten Commandments as one of many sources influencing the development of modern law. The placement of a monument on city hall grounds is intended to acknowledge this historical and legal influence.
The resolution authorizes:
- The acceptance of donations for the construction of a Ten Commandments monument and/or the acceptance of a donated monument.
- The acceptance of donated funds and labor for construction and implementation expenses.
- The arrangement for and placement of the monument on city hall grounds.
Council also noted that the corridors and grounds of city hall currently contain, and may in the future contain, other monuments and items of historical significance.
The city has retained First Liberty Institute, which will represent the city for free, if there are any legal challenges to the installation of the monument. First Liberty Institute has successfully litigated two United States Supreme Court cases governing the law regarding such monuments.