The Republican Party in Oklahoma has offered a new home to the Ten Commandments monument, which is set to be removed from the state capitol following a court order.
Estela Hernandez, interim chairperson of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said the monument can be displayed outside the Dewey Bartlett Center, the location of the Republican headquarters in Oklahoma City.
A court gave Oklahoma until Oct. 12 to remove the monument.
"It really defines us as a nation," said Hernandez, according to Reuters. "We really are a moral nation and, when we look at those laws that are enshrined in that monument, that's what we follow today."
The Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission earlier voted 7-1 to authorise the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to remove the monument.
A lawsuit was filed by Oklahoma residents and in July, the State Supreme Court ordered it removed, saying it violated the state Constitution's ban on the use of government property to benefit a religion.
"Unfortunately, it appears that the legal options for keeping the monument at the Capitol have been exhausted," said Hernandez in a statement. "That is why I am offering to have the monument moved to the State Party Headquarters."
She added: "I believe, like the vast majority of Oklahomans and especially Oklahoma Republicans that the Ten Commandments is part of the cornerstone of our system of government. We have routinely acknowledged this. Even inside the US Capitol there are monuments to the great lawgivers that are the basis of our governmental system and the one of Moses is front and center in the House Chamber."
"It's time for the party to take a stand and support the values of Oklahomans, and while we still feel the best place for this monument is at the State Capitol, we are happy to offer ourselves as a secondary site so that the monument is not destroyed or removed from public view," Hernandez added.
She said the party is reaching out to the governor's office about its offer.
