[h=1]Arabic 'In God We Trust' signs headed to Texas schools — a law requires that they be displayed[/h]
A Florida activist is attempting to give Texas legislators a "teachable moment of inclusion."
Following the passage of Senate Bill 797 last year, schools in Texas are now required to display signs with the national motto "In God We Trust" in a public space if the sign is donated or paid for by private donations. The sign must also include the U.S. and Texas flags centered underneath.
Earlier this week, Chaz Stevens, an activist in Florida, began donating hundreds of "In God We Trust" posters in Arabic to Texas schools. Stevens is the founder of Mount Jab Church of Mars, a group advocating for the separation of church and state. He said the posters directly translate to the national motto in Arabic.
Stevens said they will begin by sending the posters to schools in liberal areas determined by COVID-19 vaccination rates, presuming those areas are likely to be more progressive. In a tweet, Stevens said he expects to start with the Austin area and hopefully later target schools in less-vaccinated areas.
The goal is to send a minimum of 300 signs, depending on how much money the GoFundMe account raises, Stevens said.
The activist said he hired a professional translator based in the Middle East to ensure a direct translation, noting that there was a mistake in the translation on his first attempt. Stevens said one of the reasons Arabic was chosen was because the script is "beautiful."
A Florida activist is attempting to give Texas legislators a "teachable moment of inclusion."
Following the passage of Senate Bill 797 last year, schools in Texas are now required to display signs with the national motto "In God We Trust" in a public space if the sign is donated or paid for by private donations. The sign must also include the U.S. and Texas flags centered underneath.
Earlier this week, Chaz Stevens, an activist in Florida, began donating hundreds of "In God We Trust" posters in Arabic to Texas schools. Stevens is the founder of Mount Jab Church of Mars, a group advocating for the separation of church and state. He said the posters directly translate to the national motto in Arabic.
Stevens said they will begin by sending the posters to schools in liberal areas determined by COVID-19 vaccination rates, presuming those areas are likely to be more progressive. In a tweet, Stevens said he expects to start with the Austin area and hopefully later target schools in less-vaccinated areas.
The goal is to send a minimum of 300 signs, depending on how much money the GoFundMe account raises, Stevens said.
The activist said he hired a professional translator based in the Middle East to ensure a direct translation, noting that there was a mistake in the translation on his first attempt. Stevens said one of the reasons Arabic was chosen was because the script is "beautiful."
