Friend,

Rachel emailed you yesterday about the Trump administration’s religious freedom violations on Religious Freedom Day.

Education Secretary DeVos and Attorney General Barr issued new school prayer guidance that, frankly, opens the floodgates to coercive prayer and religious activity in our public schools.

This could lead to bullying, harassment and ostracism that will predominantly impact religious minorities and LGBTQ students.

We need 5,000 supporters to tell A.G. Barr and Sec. DeVos we will not tolerate this violation of religious freedom in our public schools. Sign the petition now: [link removed]

AU has fought and won on this issue before. In fact, last year in Louisiana, AU secured a huge win after reaching a settlement agreement with the Bossier Parish School Board to end religious coercion that had spread throughout the schools.

Today, about 75% of the church-state separation violations reported to AU occur in public schools. These new guidelines will further complicate this issue by:

- Encouraging students to speak “persuasively” about religion to their classmates, opening the door to proselytism and harassment.

- Inviting public school teachers to participate in religious activities with impressionable students.

- Encouraging students to pray at school events, including graduations, sporting events and student assemblies.

In the wake of this breaking news, we need you to join us to make it clear that no supporters of religious freedom will tolerate coercive religious activity in our public schools.

Click here to tell Ed Sec. DeVos and AG Barr that you oppose this new guidance: [link removed]

Thank you for taking swift action.

In solidarity,

Maggie Garrett
VP of Public Policy

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