News From The Week Of January 6 – 10, 2020

Friend:

Trump held a campaign rally inside a Miami evangelical mega-church to kick off “Evangelicals for Trump” – and he made a new promise to attack religious freedom.

Trump said he and Attorney General Bill Barr would soon take action to “safeguard” students’ and teachers’ First Amendment rights to pray in our schools. We’ve heard rhetoric like that before, and it’s typically followed by attempts to institute coercive, unconstitutional religious practices into public schools that should be welcoming and inclusive to all students, regardless of their religious beliefs. Read more about his comments here: [link removed]

Trump’s threat to insert a one-sided view of religion into our public schools aligns with the goals of Project Blitz, a coordinated initiative across state legislatures to codify a Christian nation. Legislative sessions are beginning in states across the country and we stand ready to block more Project Blitz bills in the coming months.

Over recent years, AU and our allies have exposed Project Blitz’s tactics and brought them out of the shadows. In 2020, we will do even more to counter their efforts to weaponize religious freedom. That’s thanks to your continuing support.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy new year. I cannot wait to see all that we accomplish together in 2020!

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

Trump Is Launching A School Prayer Crusade. Americans United Will Be There To Meet It:
Students already have the right to pray in public schools as long as their actions don’t disrupt class and are voluntary. When Trump’s Christian nationalist fan base talks about 'school prayer,' they usually mean some type of coercive worship experience that a majority forces onto a minority against their will.
READ MORE » [link removed]

State Legislatures Are Coming Back Into Session, And We’re Already Seeing Threats To Religious Freedom:
It’s January, which means state legislatures around the country are coming back in session.
READ MORE » [link removed]

How An Artist’s Mural Captures The Spirit Of Americans United:
The mural depicts something essential about AU that I have not spent adequate time articulating myself: our simultaneous celebration and enabling of individuality and unity. We protect the separation of religion and government because it allows each of us to express ourselves freely as individuals without fear of persecution or lesser treatment and because it unifies us across these differences.
READ MORE » [link removed]

An Indiana Lawmaker Wants ‘In God We Trust’ Signs In Public Schools. Here’s Why That’s A Bad Idea:
As we noted on this blog on Wednesday, state legislatures are coming back into session, and Americans United is keeping a close eye on dangerous legislation sponsored by Project Blitz.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Like Us On Facebook: [link removed]

Follow Us On Twitter: [link removed]

Follow us On Instagram: [link removed]

Copyright © 2020
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
1310 L Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC xxxxxx
www.au.org

unsubscribe: [link removed]
Update your information: [link removed]
Privacy policy: www.au.org/about/privacy-policy
Donate: [link removed]