First Liberty
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Help Us Reclaim Religious Liberty for
Those Being Forced Underground

Dear John,

Thanksgiving is just a week away...and here at First Liberty
we're certainly grateful for the historic victories God allowed
us to achieve this year.

And of course, we're thankful for your ongoing support in the
fight to reclaim religious liberty.

Yet, while many of us are thankful to have more religious freedom than
at any point in the last half century, there are thousands of our
fellow patriots still fighting for their rights.

Enemies of religious liberty are chipping away at the most fundamental
constitutional ideals-and religious minorities are especially
being hit hard by their full-blown assault.

As someone who loves liberty, you know that America shines as a beacon
of freedom. For over 200 years, our Constitution's exceptional
protections for religious liberty have made our nation a refuge for
the least among us, those oppressed and persecuted because of their
faith.

That's why it's painful right now to witness the Jewish
community suffer so much hatred and animosity. In fact, recent studies
and surveys show:

* One in three Jewish-Americans reported avoiding publicly
wearing, carrying, or displaying items that might identify them
as members of the Jewish community.
* 2018 recorded the third-highest number of anti-Semitic incidents
in the past decade, with a sharp 99% increase in claims of
harassment, vandalism and violence from 2015.
* 57% percent of religious hate crimes in 2018 were motivated by
offenders' anti-Jewish bias, according to the FBI.

The fact is that if people of faith are bullied or intimidated into
hiding their faith behind closed doors, or forced to practice their
religion underground...then we're not truly living up to the
longstanding American promise of religious freedom.

In order to have religious freedom in any real sense, we must protect
minority faith communities and their right to live out their faith.

That's why First Liberty continues to be First in the Fight for
religious minorities-in particular our ongoing defense of the
Orthodox Jewish community in Airmont, NY.

The Village of Airmont has a thirty-year history of blatant bigotry.
Its zoning laws have blocked Jewish residents from worshiping in their
own homes and forced their faith underground.

It's the reason why Airmont officials have been the subject of
civil rights lawsuits spanning five different presidential
administrations. In one of those lawsuits, a federal court concluded
the Village created zoning laws based on "animosity toward
Orthodox Jews as a group."

Discrimination has also spread to the local school district, which
refuses to provide students at a Jewish day school with transportation
and special education services required by state law.

The bigotry runs so deep that the U.S. Department of Justice recently
got involved and publicly stated that Airmont clearly has a
"troubled history" of anti-Semitism.

Fostering true religious freedom requires us to stand boldly against
religious hostility, especially when minority faith communities are
the target.

We have an incredible record of success defending the Jewish
community, including our victories for the Hebrew Discovery Center and
Chabad of Irvine, two synagogues in Los Angeles who've endured
constant attacks. And, not long ago, we secured a victory for
Congregation Toras Chaim in Dallas, TX. They spent nearly six years in
court wrangling with city officials over parking-even though its
members don't drive on their Sabbath.

By reclaiming religious liberty for the least among us, we're
defending religious liberty for all...and that has a huge impact for
you and I to keep living out our faith in our homes.

We need you on the battlefront now more than ever...because when you
stand with us, we can be their greatest hope for victory.

We're urging YOU to join First Liberty in this critical fight to
protect the Jewish community in Airmont, NY-and you can do so
today with a financial contribution.

By making a timely donation right now, you are helping us achieve the
ideal that America's Founders had in mind-for our country
to be a safe haven for people of all faiths.

Will you go all-in with First Liberty and help us defend that legacy?

Yes, I will make a financial contribution today and help reclaim
religious liberty for the Jewish community and other religious
minorities under attack.
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Gratefully, 
Kelly

Kelly Shackelford, Esq.
President, CEO & Chief Counsel
First Liberty Institute 

 



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