As President of France, Chirac oversaw the passage of the 2003 "laicization" law that prohibited the wearing of religious dress and prominent insignia at all French schools and universities. Supporters of "laicization" argue that in order for religion to be free, the public square must be cleansed of overt religious display. Sikh, Muslim, and Jewish students have been tossed out of school or forced to abandon their religious attire. Critics argue that the law is motivated by racism and contrast it to the peaceful success of America's free exercise model, which seeks to accommodate religious difference in the public square.