Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a set of bills that would require the state’s schools to play the national anthem before sporting events and mandate a moment of silence after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I’m announcing The Star-Spangled Banner Act that will require each public school to play The Star-Spangled Banner at the start of school-sanctioned sporting events,” Rutledge announced on Twitter Monday.
I’m announcing The Star-Spangled Banner Act that will require each public school to play The Star-Spangled Banner at the start of school-sanctioned sporting events. pic.twitter.com/VcNYT2jMld
— Leslie Rutledge (@AGRutledge) March 22, 2021
Rutledge then posted a second tweet that announced her proposed “Moment of Silence Act.”
“I’m announcing the Moment of Silence Act,” Rutledge said. “It changes AR law requiring a moment of silence in Arkansas schools to also mandate a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance during the start of the school day.”
I’m announcing the Moment of Silence Act. It changes AR law requiring a moment of silence in Arkansas schools to also mandate a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance during the start of the school day.
— Leslie Rutledge (@AGRutledge) March 22, 2021
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: AN EXPRESSION OF NATIONAL UNITY
The Republican attorney general cited “cancel culture” as a primary justification for the measures.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen through the cancel culture and others pushing back against our patriotic values,” Rutledge said of the proposed bills. “This is an opportunity to ensure that Arkansas students are reminded of the sacrifices of our veterans. That our freedoms are not free and to instill these values in our young minds and hearts as we move into the future.”
But the bills face pushback from some Democrats, who argued there was little reason for the mandates.
“I’m all for instilling American values and doing what we can there, but again, I don’t know why we are taking the time to legislate these kinds of things, and I would also note that this attorney general campaigned back in 2014 for this office by saying that she didn’t really think that an attorney general had a place in crafting policy,” said Democratic State Sen. Greg Leding.
Rutledge, who is expected to be a contender for governor during the 2022 election, has made waves in recent weeks with new proposed legislation.
Responding to President Biden’s gender discrimination executive order last month, Rutledge proposed legislation that would ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports in the state.
“I want to send a strong message to President Biden and his administration that here in Arkansas, we intend to require schools to prohibit biological boys who self-identify as girls onto girls’ sports teams,” Rutledge said of that legislation.
But Rutledge may face an uphill climb in the state’s GOP primary, with former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also declaring her candidacy for the seat of term-limited Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Sanders, who is the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, has already earned the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the race.
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“Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a warrior who will always fight for the people of Arkansas and do what is right, not what is politically correct. Sarah is strong on Border, tough on Crime, and fully supports the Second Amendment and our great law enforcement officers,” Trump said of his former press secretary. “She loves our Military and Veterans — and her home state of Arkansas. Sarah will be a GREAT Governor, and she has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
