News From The Week Of December 9 – 13, 2019
Friend:
As the end of 2019 approaches, what are you reflecting on? I’m remembering a crowd of activists connecting powerfully with our message when I spoke on the steps of the Supreme Court about religious freedom and LGBTQ equality. I’m reflecting on testifying in a Congressional hearing dedicated to the idea that religious freedom should operate as a shield, not a sword.
During this year of constant attacks on church-state separation designed to turn back the clock on social progress, your help and support has enabled Americans United to fight back time and time again, whether it was to challenge discrimination in foster care, oppose private school vouchers, or put a stop to the Denial of Care Rule that would have put patients’ lives at risk. Everywhere discrimination reared its ugly head, our legal and advocacy efforts were front and center – thanks to you.
Yes, we have been busy playing defense, but I want you to know that we’ve also been hard at work designing and implementing a proactive strategy to build visibility and empower people across the country. We hope you will join us for our first-ever National Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., in March of next year. This couldn’t be a more important time to come together and bring our voices to the halls of Congress.
As the year winds down, I invite you to start reading our Top 10 Church-State Stories of 2019 below – but stay tuned for the full and final list next week, ending with our number one top story of the year!
With hope and determination,
Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO
AU’s Top 10 Of 2019 – No. 10: Opposing Expansion Of Private School Vouchers:
In 2019, Americans United fought against multiple attacks on public education and religious freedom as federal and state officials proposed new private school voucher schemes that would violate religious freedom by diverting taxpayer dollars from public schools to fund private, mostly religious schools that can discriminate against children and families.
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AU’s Top 10 Of 2019 – No. 9: Protecting Religious Freedom For Louisiana Students:
Americans United secured a huge win this year on behalf of public school students and families in Louisiana after negotiating a settlement agreement with the Bossier Parish School Board that ensures children feel welcome and included in their own schools regardless of their religious beliefs.
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AU’s Top 10 Of 2019 – No. 8: Taking On The Trump Administration:
In 2019, Americans United expanded its efforts to stop the Trump administration from misusing religious freedom to harm others and undermining our nation’s fundamental principle of separation of religion and government. We filed three new federal lawsuits and joined a fourth, bringing our court challenges against the Trump administration to nine.
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AU’s Top 10 Of 2019 – No. 7: Battling Project Blitz In The States:
This year, Americans United led social justice and faith groups to expose Project Blitz, the Christian nationalist political movement to undermine church-state separation, turn the U.S. into an officially “Christian nation” and roll back positive social change by misusing religious freedom to discriminate.
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AU’s Top 10 Of 2019 – No. 6: Blocking Trump’s Denial Of Care Rule In Court:
The Trump administration rule invited all health care workers to deny care to any patient because of religious beliefs, putting everyone’s health at risk and violating religious freedom.
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