Dear Friend,

The House Judiciary Committee is about to consider and vote on a bill that would establish “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as the national hymn. This powerful song has long been an ode to Black pride and liberation. The problem is we should not have a national hymn. A hymn is by definition “a song of praise to God.” Congress should not be spending time establishing this or any other song as our national hymn. Doing so borders on a violation of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment because it seems to directly establish, or at least endorse, a religion, the one referenced in the hymn. 

We already have a national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.” It is widely supported and it does not center itself on religion. There is no reason for Congress to create a competitor, a song that does single out one religion. Doing so clearly violates the secular approach to government that the First Amendment requires. Please use our Action Alert to reach your representatives, telling them that they should oppose H.R. 301 because a national hymn from one religion infringes on the rights of those who believe in other religions or no religion

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