Ten Commandments Monument
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A granite monument of the Ten Commandments has been removed from the Oklahoma Capitol grounds.

A contractor the state hired began removing the monument around 10:30 p.m., local time, Monday. Its removal comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court determined the display violates a constitutional prohibition on the use of public property to support a ``system of religion.''

Office of Management and Enterprise Services spokesman John Estus said the state is paying the contractor $4,700 to remove the six-foot-tall sculpture.

Estus said the monument will be taken to a private conservative think tank, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, which has agreed to store it.

Estus said the decision to remove the monument at night was to minimize the distraction to workers in the building and to prevent public demonstrations.

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