Friend,

In a year that we didn’t think could get more surreal, now President Trump, the First Lady and members of his staff have contracted coronavirus. We wish them and the millions of others across the country suffering from this terrible illness good health and a speedy recovery.

As far as we know right now, the Senate’s hasty confirmation process of Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, is continuing as planned. Barrett has demonstrated hostility toward church-state separation, so Americans United has been working overtime to ensure this fundamental principle that protects religious freedom for all of us is not abandoned by the highest court in the land. And we are raising consciousness about the importance of and threats to our issue at the same time.

Our policy experts are educating the public, the media, and members of the U.S. Senate about Barrett’s record on the separation of religion and government. In a new AU report, which was shared broadly with lawmakers, we laid out what’s at stake in this confirmation battle. Barrett on the court would threaten the future of reproductive freedom, expand the misuse of religion to discriminate, and lead to expanded religious exemptions that especially put LGBTQ people, women, religious minorities and the nonreligious at risk.

We are activating our national network of AU supporters to urge the Senate to oppose the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. It’s pure hypocrisy for the Senate to move forward at this time when they refused to vote on Merrick Garland’s nomination. In fact, in this case, the presidential election is already underway – millions of people are voting right now. The Senate should listen to the will of the people and not confirm anyone to the Supreme Court until the next presidential term begins. If you haven’t already, please click here to send a message to your Senators now.

I want to take a moment to say thank you, truly, for all you do to help us protect the Constitution’s promise of keeping religion and government separate. The stakes keep getting higher, the situation more complex, but with your support, AU will continue to rise to the occasion.

With hope and determination,