TFN and diverse faith leaders waited almost 24 hours at the Texas Capitol yesterday to testify against the Texas Ten Commandments Bill, SB 10.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/her), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — In case you missed it, the Texas Freedom Network (TFN) and diverse faith leaders gathered at the Texas Capitol yesterday to oppose Senate Bill 10, which would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom across Texas.
Following the press conference, TFN Policy Advocate Rocío Fierro-Pérez delivered testimony during the House Public Education Committee hearing, which began more than 15 hours after its initial scheduled time. Texans were left with no choice but to arrive at the Capitol hours in advance just to register to testify.
The public is kept in the dark about when bills will be heard, and committee leaders routinely cut off testimony registration long before the bill is actually taken up. It’s an intentional barrier to public participation and a failure of transparency by those who have full control over the hearing schedule.
Watch testimony from TFN’s Political Director, Rocío Fierro-Pérez, here.
SB 10 has already passed the full Texas Senate in March, and yesterday marked the final opportunity for Texans to comment publicly on the bill before legislators. This legislation mirrors a similar proposal from 2023 that failed to receive a vote on the House floor before the end of the 88th Legislative Session.
“Forcing public schools to favor one religious perspective over all others would undermine the right of children from different religious traditions to feel welcome and respected in our public schools,” said Felicia Martin, Executive Director of the Texas Freedom Network. “Moreover, the government cheapens religious faith when it imposes mandates designed to play favorites, as this bill does. Matters of faith are best left to families and congregations, not government and public schools.”
The press conference included statements from representatives of the Sikh Coalition, Temple Beth Shalom, Jubilee Episcopal Church, and CAIR-Texas, all emphasizing how the Texas Ten Commandments Bill threatens religious freedom in public education.
“Texans are guided by our faith, and the way we practice our faith is a sacred choice within our families and between our trusted religious leaders,” said Rabbi Eleanor B. Steinman, Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom. “Our classrooms are where the future citizens of our State learn the importance of coexistence and tolerance alongside the fundamentals of reading, math, art, writing, and science. Classrooms are not temples, churches, mosques, prayer rooms, pagodas, or synagogues. The 10 commandments have no place inside places of public learning.”
Photos from the press conference can be found here.
A recording of the full press conference can be found here.
