Ten Commandments Monument Removed From Okla. Capitol Monday Night

The Ten Commandments monument that graced the Oklahoma Capitol grounds was moved this week after it was deemed an unconstitutional display of religion on government grounds.

The two-ton structure was moved in the night by a private contractor from the Capitol grounds to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative think-tank.

As the Associated Press reports, John Estus, spokesman for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, said in a statement that the state decided to move the giant statue in the middle of the night to avoid potential protests that would prove dangerous around heavy moving equipment.

"We wanted it to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible, and doing it at night gave us the best opportunity to do that," Estus said. "The Highway Patrol was also very concerned that having it in the middle of the day could lead to having demonstrations of some kind."

Estus added to the media outlet that there were enough troopers present at the commandments' removal to contain the five to six protesters who did show up Monday evening at around 10:30 p.m.

"There were legitimate security concerns. The patrol heard enough chatter after the court ruling," Estus said. "There was a little hooting and hollering from a few folks who showed up, but it went smoothly."

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin previously voiced her opposition to the removal of the Ten Commandments statue, arguing that it was less of a representation of Christian beliefs and more of a symbol of the Commandments' "historic significance."