Friend,

It’s hard to find much to be positive about these days, but here’s some proverbial lemonade from lemons: Our nation can now no longer deny that President Trump is undermining church-state separation in order to advance a harmful Christian nationalist political agenda.

Donate here to help AU defend religious freedom from Trump and his Christian nationalist allies »

I was appalled and ashamed of President Trump’s photo op in front of St. John’s Church, after he brutalized peaceful protesters exercising their First Amendment rights simply so he could wave an upside-down Bible in the air for the cameras. He did this all while refusing to address the crucial issues of systemic racism and the role the misuse of religious freedom has historically played in the oppression of black and brown people in America.

This was followed by another photo op at a Catholic shrine, which Archbishop Wilton Gregory of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., said was “egregiously misused and manipulated” by Trump.

These stunts are brazen attempts by Trump to use a religion he never even practices to shore up support among his evangelical Christian base. They were textbook examples of Christian nationalism at work.

Frankly, Trump is emboldening the Christian nationalist movement like never before. To protect your and my religious freedom from this threat, we need your support.

What’s worse, Trump’s shameless disregard for church-state separation was reinforced last week when his nominee for a lifetime appointment to the powerful U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Justin Walker, was advanced to a floor vote in the Senate.

In his short six months of experience as a judge, Justin Walker has proven that he thinks religious freedom includes the right to use religion to harm others.

AU, joined by thousands of our supporters who contacted their senators, urged the Senate to oppose Walker’s nomination – but there’s so much more we must do. I am asking for your support today to ensure that Trump’s renewed embrace of Christian nationalism does not go unanswered.

Please click here to rush a gift of $50 to support AU’s important work today.

Thank you, friend. During these difficult times, we have much work to do. Your partnership means more to our team than words can express.

In solidarity,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO