Friend:

As we’ve celebrated Americans United’s 75th anniversary this year, I’ve been talking more than ever about the past and the future of church-state separation. This devastating Supreme Court term and today’s emboldened Christian nationalist movement have made one thing clear: We must focus on building the next generation of church-state separation champions who can protect and defend religious freedom and so many of our rights for the next 75 years. I’m proud to say that AU is already solidly on the path of doing this work.

I was proud to honor one of our younger champions last week when I presented AU’s David Norr Youth Activist Award for 2022 to Ramya Sinha. Ramya stirred up some good trouble at her former school, Faith Christian Academy in Colorado, on behalf of one of AU’s clients, Gregg Tucker. An exemplary teacher and director of student life, Gregg was fired for trying to combat extensive racism directed at his family and many of the school’s Black, Hispanic and Asian students. Ramya was a brave and outspoken supporter of Gregg: She publicly condemned the racism at Faith Christian Academy and the school’s unjust treatment of Gregg.

Ramya spoke about her time at FCA—“one of the darkest and most traumatizing times of my life”—but also about how important our fight is. She explained: “What's been happening in our nation recently with the disgusting and inhumane removal of women's rights shows us just how much harm is done when those of power choose not to uphold the separation of church and state, all to please a Jesus they’ve distorted to be a white Christian Nationalist. That case, along with the current events, prove how much we can't stop fighting for the separation of church and state, which in turn fights for the rights of everyone.”

Ramya begins law school this fall and she’ll carry that message to a new group of peers. Supporting youth leaders like Ramya is critical to ensuring AU will be around for another 75 years and beyond to defend church-state separation and religious freedom. That’s why we are dedicated to youth outreach and leadership efforts like the new Legal Academy, our Youth Organizing Fellowship program, next year’s Summit for Religious Freedom, and our Student Essay Contest.

To highlight our commitment to this fight, this summer we launched a $750,000 campaign to seed our Next Generation Fund and equip the leaders who will drive AU and its work forward. Through a gracious matching gift from Barbara Meislin, any gift to this campaign from now to the end of the year will be matched up to $250,000. To read more about these initiatives and to support the Next Generation Fund, click here.

Religious extremists, their political allies and even justices on the U.S. Supreme Court want us to return to a past that didn’t live up to our country’s promise of freedom and equality for all. We will not go back. With you and the next generation of leaders on our side, we are the future. With your support, AU is leading the way forward in pursuit of an America that guarantees freedom without favor and equality without exception.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

P.S. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, please check out this inspiring new video about AU’s work over the past 75 years and our resolve to continue protecting church-state separation long into the future.