The Ten Commandment monument that has been on the Oklahoma Capitol grounds since 2012 was removed by workers on Monday night.
Workers began removing the monument at approximately 10:30 pm on Monday, spokesman for the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services John Estus told Washington Post.
"We wanted it removed as quickly and safely as possible with little interruption as we could. We didn't want disturbance that could've complicated the removal," Estus said.
The privately funded monument has caused controversy since it was installed in 2012. Subsequently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on June 30, ruling that the presence of the monument on state property violates the state constitution that prohibits the use of public property to endorse any religion.
"As concerns the "historic purpose' justification, the Ten Commandments are obviously religious in nature and are an integral part of the Jewish and Christian faiths. Because the monument at issue operates for the use, benefit or support of a sect or system of religion, it violates Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution and is enjoined and shall be removed," the justices wrote.
Oklahoma County Judge Thomas Prince ordered the removal of the monument by Oct 12.
Accordingly, the monument has been installed at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a privately funded public policy analysis organization a few blocks away from the Capitol grounds.
