News from the week Jan. 3 – Jan. 7, 2022

Friend:

People who know me (and by now, I gratefully count you among them) know anger is not something I succumb to easily. But as I remember the malignant events of the January 6 insurrection, I feel my own anger welling up inside and temporarily overtaking my calm and constructive optimism and goal-setting at the start of a New Year. I imagine many of you feel the same way.

But as much as it’s enraging to remember, it’s also vital that we confront and expose the underpinnings of last January 6 and the ongoing anti-democratic crusade playing out every day since: Christian nationalism. It—they—were front and center on the Capitol lawn that day, bearing Christian crosses and signs and even shouting Christian prayers and slogans inside the Capitol.

Having failed in their coup attempt, Christian nationalists are waging a more subtle but more successful coup in the form of voter suppression. They and their lawmaker allies are targeting state legislatures and local election boards and working systematically to suppress the votes of people of color, the poor and every marginalized community.

There is now firm data to prove the connection between Christian nationalism and voter suppression. A powerful study ([link removed]) by scholars Andrew Whitehead, Samuel Perry and Joshua Grubbs confirms that Christian nationalism is a leading predictor for believing the U.S. makes it “too easy to vote,” that voter “fraud” is rampant—and even that citizens should be required to pass a civics test before they can register.

But rather than give into anger, let’s use it to fuel our commitment to reclaim religious freedom and to fight for our democracy. Especially this year, when Americans United proudly celebrates our 75th anniversary as the nation’s foremost defender of the true religious liberty and the principle of church-state separation on which America was founded.

And we are doing more than celebrate. In honor of our 75th, we are launching a series of exciting new initiatives to capitalize on this moment and build power for the future. You can read more in my recent column from Church & State magazine ([link removed]). I encourage you to learn about them and consider other ways AU can strengthen our mission at this alarming moment in history. Please send me your thoughts—I’d love to hear them.

It’s been a rough week, and the signs are that it will be a rough year. But AU was built to take on tough battles. We will spend this year growing stronger, more visible and better able to inspire people to action. We will persevere and succeed through the courage of our convictions and because we are aligned with our country’s founding principles. And we will emerge with our heads held high.

With hope and gratitude,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO
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One Year After The Horrific Assault On The Capitol, Christian Nationalists Are Trying To Rewrite What Happened:
Christian nationalists were among the marauders of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Video footage and photos show members of the crowd waving crosses and other symbols of the Christian faith. But leaders of prominent Christian nationalist organizations have either downplayed the insurrection or expressed sympathy for those who took part.
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75 Years Of Separation: New Programs Will Mark AU’s Milestone Anniversary:
As AU enters its 75th year amidst a rampant Christian nationalist movement, AU President and CEO Rachel Laser reflects on our mission, history and future.
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Sarah Weddington: Advocate Of Reproductive Freedom And Church-State Separation:
Sarah Weddington, the attorney who successfully argued the landmark Roe v. Wade case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that established abortion rights, was also a champion of church-state separation. She served on AU's Board of Directors in the 1990s.
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