Dear AU Supporter,

Bradley Whitford here and I’m taking over Americans United’s email! You might know me as Josh Lyman from “The West Wing,” or as Joseph Lawrence from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Today, I’m just another member of Americans United sharing why I, like you, support this crucial work.

There’s a scene in a classic episode of The West Wing, “Shibboleth,” a holiday episode in which Aaron Sorkin explores issues of religion and religious freedom. Toby, played by Richard Schiff, explains why Americans United’s work is so damn important. 

“I’ll tell you why it should be front and center. It’s not the First Amendment, it’s not religious freedom, it’s not church and state, it’s not abstract,” he explains to Leo McGarry (played by John Spencer).

“What is it?” asks Leo. Toby nails the answer:

“It’s the fourth grader who gets his ass kicked at recess ‘cause he sat out the voluntary prayer in homeroom. It's another way of making kids different from other kids when they're required by law to be there. That's why you want it front and center; fourth grader, that’s the prize.”

Americans United just took that case to the Supreme Court, fighting for students to participate fully in Bremerton public schools without teachers and coaches imposing prayer on them. But the Supreme Court betrayed those kids.

AU brings together people of all religions and none to fight for everyone’s freedom to live as themselves and believe as they choose. Not just in the courts, but also in legislatures and the public square. And AU has some huge fights ahead. 

AU needs our help to keep fighting. That's why I’m asking you to donate to AU today.

Help AU fight for freedom without favor and equality without exception by giving generously today. With your support, we can make our country a bit more “West Wing” and a lot less “Handmaid’s Tale.” 

Love to all,

Bradley Whitford

*Online contributions will be matched through Dec. 31, 2022, up to a limit of $100,000. All gifts made in excess of this limit will still provide valuable funding for AU’s efforts to defend church-state separation.