A state committee continues its work to build a pro-life memorial on the Arkansas Capitol grounds.

The “Monument to the Unborn” was created through a law the legislature passed in 2023. Bill sponsor Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, said the monument would be “tastefully done.” He wanted the memorial to celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which immediately made abortion illegal in Arkansas.

The Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission along with the Secretary of State are responsible for installing the monument. Last year, the group sifted through submissions from artists across the state. On Tuesday, the commission landed on a living flora wall, put forth by artist Lakey Goff.

“God is doing a new thing with this wall,” Goff said at a Tuesday meeting of the commission. Abortion was only mentioned once during her presentation.

On the far right of the wall, a plaque will be adorned with Psalm 139. This verse contains the phrase “you knit me in my mother's womb.” Goff says this verse will serve to “bring honor where there was once shame.”

For anyone new to this thinking "that's a lot of religion and god for a government property" I'd like to remind you that Arkansas already has a 12 commandments monument and then all other (non-christian) religious monuments were rejected. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/26/606029241/arkansas-installs-a-new-ten-commandments-monument-at-its-capitol

At least it will be "tastefully done" I guess... I'm sure Hammer knows a lot about taste.