State says plan is to install new Ten Commandments monument in April at Capitol

Architect Gary Clements on Tuesday explains the extra protections that will be put in place for the new Ten Commandments monument when it is installed on the grounds of the state Capitol. Clements addressed a subcommittee of the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission.
Architect Gary Clements on Tuesday explains the extra protections that will be put in place for the new Ten Commandments monument when it is installed on the grounds of the state Capitol. Clements addressed a subcommittee of the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission.

A second Ten Commandments monument is set to be installed in April on the grounds of the state Capitol after the initial stone tablet was toppled last year.

The latest version will be placed, with enhanced security measures, after the special legislative session, said Chris Powell, spokesman for the Arkansas secretary of state’s office.

Powell noted that while the monolith is ready, heavy equipment will be needed to hoist it into place, thus requiring a more “elaborate” and carefully planned installation.

Lawmakers will convene after the ongoing fiscal session to deal with two issues that they and Gov. Asa Hutchinson say are of immediate concern, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.

A tentative installation is scheduled for early April, Powell said.

This time around, concrete security posts, each 3 feet tall, will be installed about 5 feet apart around the base of the Ten Commandments. Each weighs around 150 pounds.

Also part of the enhanced security measures is a treatment to prevent against graffiti.

The monument was spurred by state Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, who sponsored a bill in 2015 to erect the monolith west of the state Capitol building.

In June, a driver rammed the stone tablet with a car less than 24 hours after it was installed.

Michael Tate Reed II, 32, of Van Buren has been declared unfit to stand trial in the toppling and has been committed indefinitely to the State Hospital, records show.

Funding for the monument's replacement came from private efforts, including the American History and Heritage Foundation as well as a $25,000 donation from the executive producers of the God’s Not Dead movie series.

Information for this article was contributed by Rachel Herzog of Arkansas Online.

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