FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2026
Contact:
Logan Bayroff, lbayroff@westendstrategy.com
Sam Hananel, shananel@americanprogress.org
Andrew L. Seidel, media@au.org
Court Beyer, cbeyer@americanhumanist.org
Diverse advocates’ defense of religious freedom counters Trump’s discriminator “Religious Liberty Commission”
WASHINGTON – The Center for American Progress, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Interfaith Alliance, and the American Humanist Association today launched “Religious Liberty for All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250,” a new report featuring 20 prominent voices, including elected officials and faith leaders, on what religious liberty means in their lives and for the nation.
The report makes the case for a vision of religious liberty rooted in dignity and the Constitution. It serves as a powerful alternative to the anticipated upcoming report from the Trump administration’s so-called “Religious Liberty Commission,” which has elevated a very narrow ideological perspective, perpetuated Christian Nationalist doctrines, and sought to weaken the separation of church and state.
The “Religious Liberty for All” report makes clear: “Religious liberty belongs to all people, not to any single tradition, party, or administration…As America reaches its semiquincentennial, these perspectives affirm that America’s strength lies in protecting the freedom of belief and nonbelief and ensuring that religious liberty is not misused to decide who belongs, whose rights are protected, and who has power.”
“Humanists have always understood something that gets lost in the current debate: religious liberty isn’t a prize to be won by the most powerful,” said Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. “It’s a foundation that only holds if it holds for everyone. That principle isn’t new, and it isn’t controversial. It’s why we’re proud to stand alongside this coalition in defending it.”
Elected officials contributing to the report include Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Jamie Raskin, (D-MD). Faith leaders include Rabbi David Saperstein (Union for Reform Judaism), Sunita Viswanath (Hindus for Human Rights), Rev. Terri Hord Owens (Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)), Dr. Homayra Ziad (American Islamic College), Rev. Carlos L. Malavé (Latino Christian National Network), and many more.
To mark the report launch, the organizers are holding an event at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, from 2:00 p.m.–3:15 p.m. ET. The event features keynotes remarks by Senator Coons, introductory remarks by CAP’s president and CEO Neera Tanden, and multiple panel discussions with experts on religious freedom.
The Trump Administration’s Religious Liberty Commission is expected to release its own report as early as the end of June—the publication has been repeatedly delayed as the commission faces ongoing litigation from diverse faith organizations including Interfaith Alliance, which allege illegal discrimination in the makeup and actions of the commission. In April, Democracy Forward and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a motion to pause the release of the report, on behalf of the Interfaith Alliance, Muslims for Progressive Values, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Hindus for Human Rights.
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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.