Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders shared a picture of the chalk art her children made on the ground outside of the governor’s office.
“New artwork to welcome people into the Governor’s mansion! So proud of how hard the kids worked and how well their masterpiece turned out!” Sanders wrote when sharing a photo.
The design has a large cross in the middle of what looks like a colorful stained glass window.
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Americans United for Separation of Church and State demanded that the Governor remove the artwork.
The group wrote that “promoting one religion above others by placing a religious display in the entrance of the Mansion sends an impermissible signal that those who don’t share the preferred faith are not welcome and will be treated differently.” While you and your family are free to display religious imagery within the private areas of your Mansion, and on its grounds as well, displaying a large cross at the entrance “to welcome people into Governor’s Mansion” violates the Establishment Clause in the U.S. Constitution. Please remove this display, and refrain from placing any similar displays in future public areas of the Mansion.
Sanders, however, rejected this call in no uncertain words.
“I received your letter, and my response is no.” “I will not remove the beautiful chalk cross that my children drew on the driveway at the Governor’s Mansion or my social media post, and I won’t ever try to hide my Christian faith or the fact that I was saved by Christ,” declared the governor in her response letter.
You are wrong when you claim that the Constitution prohibits public officials and their families from expressing their religious faith. Our founding documents are full of religious language, stating that the rights you defend are “endowed by our creator.” You want me to ignore this truth and conceal a vital part of my own identity and that of my children. “I will not accept that,” she wrote. “I’m offended that you imply I am a bigot just because I’m a Christian. In our state, all people are welcome, regardless of their faith. “All Arkansans are welcomed in the Governor’s Mansion.”
Sanders is the daughter of the former Arkansas Governor. Mike Huckabee was the White House Press Secretary during Donald Trump’s first few months in office.
Dear @americansunited,
I have received your letter and my answer is no.
I will not erase the beautiful cross my kids drew in chalk on the driveway of the Governor’s Mansion or remove my post on social media, and I will not now or ever hide that I am a Christian.
My letter⬇️ https://t.co/cdt9vJsMUk pic.twitter.com/3pdur4Fdmj
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) June 30, 2023
