A controversial effort to place a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Arkansas state Capitol is underway.
As of Thursday morning, nearly $1,000 had been raised through a funding campaignlaunched Wednesday.
Republican State Senator Jason Rapert is spearheading the effort to raise over $16,000 toward erecting the display. The non-profit American History and Heritage Foundation will sponsor the monument.
Rapert noted that lawmakers approved legislation by a wide margin in 2015 to legalize such a monument with the cost covered by a private group.
"The monument granite has been ordered, it will be etched," said Rapert. "We're excited to be putting that in for the state of Arkansas."
This summer, a Hindu group objected when its request for a monument was denied by the Secretary of State’s office.
Rapert suggested that for another religion to get a display, a separate bill will have to be passed by the Arkansas Legislature. But others argue the law passed last year opens the door for any religious group to have such a monument at the Capitol.
