FILE – Gov. Asa Hutchinson answers questions from the press Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, during the weekly briefing at the state Capitol. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staci Vandagriff) Religious social media posts from Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are unconstitutional, Americans United for Separation of Church and State said in a letter to the governor’s office Tuesday. Hutchinson, a Republican, posts Bible verses on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts every Sunday. The most recent, from Sunday, is Psalm 20:4: "May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." The Washington, D.C.,-based organization said it had received a complaint about the posts. "The government of the state of Arkansas exists to represent all the state’s citizens, regardless of faith or belief. Having the governor routinely promote Christianity on an official social-media page flouts that responsibility and shows contempt for all citizens who do not follow the State’s favored religion," the letter to Hutchinson and his chief legal counsel, Karen Whatley, states. Arguing that the posts violate the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion, the letter asks Hutchinson to delete them and refrain from posting religious content through official government channels. The […]
