News From The Week Of February 10 – 14, 2020

Friend:

These times may feel bleak, but wins are still possible! This week AU secured a victory for religious freedom in Brevard County, Florida, that will ensure county commissioners’ meetings remain inclusive and welcoming to all residents regardless of their religious or nonreligious beliefs.

AU and our allies went to court on behalf of nontheists who were denied the opportunity to offer secular invocations to open the meetings of the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners. Not only did commissioners bar nontheists, but they had a practice of only allowing people from mainstream, monotheistic religions to give invocations – a practice two federal courts said was unconstitutional religious discrimination.

I’m proud to say that the commissioners have agreed to settle the case and refrain from discriminating against people who don’t subscribe to traditional, monotheistic religions.

And that’s not the only good news this week. On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives cleared the way for the first-ever floor vote on the No Ban Act, which would end President Trump’s discriminatory Muslim Ban and ensure it could never be implemented again.

In a show of support for this critical legislation, AU staff joined activists from all over the country to pack the hearing room as the No Ban Act was debated. Using religion to discriminate against immigrants and refugees is un-American and unacceptable, yet Trump’s Muslim Ban has been tearing apart families for three years. As you know, AU is still in court suing the Trump Administration over the Muslim Ban. And with your help, we continue to urge Congress to pass the No Ban Act as soon as possible.

As a supporter of our movement, I hope you too feel proud of the role you’ve played in these achievements. Thanks, as always, for being with us.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

AU Scores A Victory For Religious Freedom And Inclusive Public Meetings In Florida:
The Brevard County Commissioners, which now open meetings with a moment of silence, have agreed not to reinstitute the old practice of discriminating against people who don’t belong to mainstream, monotheistic religions when selecting invocation speakers.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Legislative Prayers Won’t Offend Anyone If Government Stops Sponsoring Them:
A recent flap in Virginia serves as a reminder of the pitfalls of legislative prayer led by guest religious leaders.
READ MORE » [link removed]

It’s Time To Pass The No Ban Act:
AU opposes the Muslim Ban because it violates our fundamental values of religious freedom for all. It’s clear this ban is driven by hostility toward Muslims and their faith.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Help Americans United Stop The Trump Administration’s Latest Assault On Religious Freedom:
These proposed regulations could have a broad reach, affecting programs for housing, food, substance use treatment, counseling, veterans’ services, care for the elderly and more.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Please Scale This Summit! Join Us Next Month In D.C.:
Even for those of us who know how vital church-state separation is, it isn’t always easy to find the words to express why, or to make the case to others about why they should care. The National Advocacy Summit will help.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Like Us On Facebook: [link removed]

Follow Us On Twitter: [link removed]

Follow us On Instagram: [link removed]

Copyright © 2020
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
1310 L Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC xxxxxx
www.au.org

unsubscribe: [link removed]
Update your information: [link removed]
Privacy policy: www.au.org/about/privacy-policy
Donate: [link removed]