Friend:

Yesterday President Trump threatened to “override” the authority of any governors who refuse his demand to reopen houses of worship this weekend. Not only does Trump lack the authority to do that, he’s unconstitutionally trying to grant special privileges to religion that put all of our lives at risk.

As I said in my statement, the president’s demand to immediately reopen houses of worship in all 50 states regardless of the local coronavirus circumstances is irresponsible, reckless, and will tragically lead to more deaths. Like we saw in the devastating experience of one church in Arkansas, houses of worship have been common vectors for transmission of the virus. Americans United is calling on state officials to ignore Trump’s dangerous demand.

Already courts in at least 21 cases across the country have ruled against religious exemptions for houses of worship, and AU has been involved in 17 such cases. Just this week in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, the judge called AU’s friend-of-the-court brief “timely and useful” in her decision to deny a high-profile request for a religious exemption from Gov. Hogan’s public health order.

Friend, as our communities begin to chart a path back to a new normal, we must proceed cautiously. President Trump’s cynical pandering to his religious extremist base cannot be allowed to dictate states’ reopening plans and endanger millions of lives.

This Memorial Day weekend, as we remember our nation’s military heroes, I hope you and your loved ones stay safe, healthy, and well. Please feel free to drop us a line about how you’re doing, and thank you for being such a loyal supporter of Americans United.

In solidarity,