Friend:

Our public schools are under attack like never before. If you’ve been following along on our blog lately, you know well that religious extremists and their political allies are trying to force Christian nationalism into our children’s (and grandchildren’s) classrooms.

They’re banning books that even hint at our country’s diversity or past struggles. They’re firing and driving out teachers and librarians who are trying to provide kids with an inclusive learning environment. They’re forcing public schools to prominently display “In God We Trust.” They’re pushing fear-mongering laws like “Don’t Say Gay” and anti-CRT bills that provoke discrimination against LGBTQ students and reverse progress toward racial justice.

This is the landscape children, their families and educators are facing in many parts of the country as they return to schools right now. And that doesn’t even speak to the attacks the ultra-conservative bloc of the Supreme Court launched against public education and church-state separation last term—ruling in favor of a public school football coach who held coercive prayers with students on the 50-yard line after games and forcing Maine taxpayers to fund private religious education (though, it’s good to hear the state is refusing to send those funds to religious schools that discriminate).

Together, we must fight back against Christian nationalists attempting to force impressionable children to live by their beliefs. We owe it to our children to ensure their public schools—the building blocks of our diverse society—are welcoming, inclusive and free of religious coercion. Our democracy depends on both church-state separation and a robust public education system.

That’s why Americans United has updated our “Know Your Rights” guides that explain the religious freedom rights of public school students and their families, and the rights and responsibilities of public school employees. I urge you to share these with everyone you know who has a child in, or who works in, a public school. We must empower students and families to understand their rights, speak out when those rights are violated, and report concerns to Americans United at au.org/report-a-violation.

A core part of the Americans United’s work is protecting church-state separation in our public schools—that’s been one of our driving missions since we were founded 75 years ago. It’s a necessary component to ensuring freedom without favor and equality without exception for all of us. Rather than lose hope, now is the time to join together and insist on holding our country to its core values. Americans United is proud to be leading the way with you by our side.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO