AS WORLD’S RELIGIONS CELEBRATE HOLY DAYS TOGETHER, FAITH LEADERS CONDEMN WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST ATTACKS ON MULTIRACIAL, MULTI-FAITH DEMOCRACY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 7, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT
Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org,
AS WORLD’S RELIGIONS CELEBRATE HOLY DAYS TOGETHER, FAITH LEADERS CONDEMN WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST ATTACKS ON MULTIRACIAL, MULTI-FAITH DEMOCRACY
From “Don’t Say Gay” bill to book banning to voter suppression, White Christian Nationalism’s discriminatory efforts hurt all of us, say faith leaders
Faiths Observing Holidays Together in April for First Time in 30 years
Washington, D.C. – Today, prominent faith leaders representing Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu traditions led a roundtable discussion on the shared celebration of holy days, the rise of White Christian Nationalism and the passing of discriminatory bills in statehouses across the country – from Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill to the banning of Critical Race Theory, the truth about race in our nation’s history, banning of books about the Holocaust in Tennessee, criminalizing the existence of transgender children in Texas and legislation forbidding kids from joining LGBTQ clubs in Arizona. Faith leaders discussed why it is important for all faiths to come together and work towards building a multiracial, multi-faith democracy.
For the first time in 30 years, a diverse set of faiths will be observing holidays simultaneously, in the month of April. These holidays include Ramadan, Passover, Easter, Vaisakhi, Mahavir Jayanti, Theravada New Year and Gathering of Nations.
For video of the event, click here.
Rev. Jen Butler, CEO, Faith in Public Life
“This sacred season presents the opportunity for solidarity and prophetic witness as we lament the rise of intolerance and discriminatory laws that threaten our nation’s quest to be a multiracial and multi-faith democracy.”
Hurunnessa Fariad, Director of Outreach, Multifaith Neighbors Network
“In the Muslim tradition, we are all created by one God. Regardless of your skin color, your gender, where you’re from or what language you speak, for us we’re all equal and we have to make sure we’re advocating for that.”
Manjit Singh, Executive Board Member, Sikh American Legal Defense Education Fund (SALDEF)
“Sikhs celebrate our annual new year on April 14. It is also the celebration of the origination and formation of the Sikh fraternity called Khalsa where we commit to social justice, religious liberty and freedom for all. That is what inspires me.”
Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights
“I have been challenged to ask myself, what does being a Hindu mean for me? What do I stand for? I think that the Hindu that I am, is one who shows up.”
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Author and Scholar in Residence, National Council of Jewish Women
“[In the Passover story] we see all of these women taking action in a situation of oppression and injustice and saying “what’s happening now is not right.” We all need to show up in this moment in the ways that we can and the places that we are.”
Dr. Sabrina Dent, President, Center for Faith, Justice, and Reconciliation
“When I think about multi-faith, multiracial and multi-ethnic democracy, I think about the needs and concerns of all humanity. That is what inspires me, the tradition of liberation and justice that was introduced to me at a very young age.”
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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.