Religious Freedom Day, 2017

Proclamation 9569 of January 13, 2017

Religious Freedom Day, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Believing that ``Almighty God hath created the mind
free,'' Thomas Jefferson authored the Virginia Statute
for Religious Freedom after our young Nation declared
its independence. This idea of religious liberty later
became a foundation for the First Amendment, which
begins by stating that ``Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof . . .'' On Religious Freedom
Day, we rededicate ourselves to defending these
fundamental principles, pay tribute to the many ways
women and men of different religious and non-religious
backgrounds have shaped America's narrative, and
resolve to continue forging a future in which all
people are able to practice their faiths freely or not
practice at all.

Religious freedom is a principle based not on shared
ancestry, culture, ethnicity, or faith but on a shared
commitment to liberty--and it lies at the very heart of
who we are as Americans. As a Nation, our strength
comes from our diversity, and we must be unified in our
commitment to protecting the freedoms of conscience and
religious belief and the freedom to live our lives
according to them. Religious freedom safeguards
religion, allowing us to flourish as one of the most
religious countries on Earth, but it also strengthens
our Nation as a whole. Brave men and women of faith
have challenged our conscience and brought us closer to
our founding ideals, from the abolition of slavery to
the expansion of civil rights and workers' rights. And
throughout our history, faith communities have helped
uphold these values by joining in efforts to help those
in need--rallying in the face of tragedy and providing
care or shelter in times of disaster.

As they built this country, our Founders understood
that religion helps strengthen our Nation when it is
not an extension of the State. And because our
Government does not sponsor a religion--nor pressure
anyone to practice a particular faith or any faith at
all--we have a culture that aims to ensure people of
all backgrounds and beliefs can freely and proudly
worship without fear or coercion. Yet in 2015, nearly
20 percent of hate crime victims in America were
targeted because of religious bias. That is
unacceptable--and as Americans, we have an obligation
to do better.

If we are to defend religious freedom, we must remember
that when any religious group is targeted, we all have
a responsibility to speak up. At times when some try to
divide us along religious lines, it is imperative that
we recall the common humanity we share--and reject a
politics that seeks to manipulate, prejudice, or bias,
and that targets people because of religion. Part of
being American means guarding against bigotry and
speaking out on behalf of others, no matter their
background or belief--whether they are wearing a hijab
or a baseball cap, a yarmulke or a cowboy hat.

Today, we must also remember those outside the United
States who are persecuted for their faith or beliefs,
including those who have lost their lives in attacks on
sacred places. Religious liberty is more than a
cornerstone of American life--it is a universal and
inalienable right--and as members of a global
community, we must strive to ensure that all people can
enjoy

that right in peace and security. That is why my
Administration has worked with coalitions around the
globe to end discrimination against religious
minorities, protect vulnerable communities, and promote
religious freedom for all. We have also worked to
ensure that those who are persecuted for their
religious beliefs can find safety and a new home in the
United States and elsewhere.

America has changed a great deal since Thomas Jefferson
first drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious
Freedom, but religious liberty is a right we must never
stop striving to uphold. Today, let us work to protect
that precious right and ensure all people are able to
go about their day in safety and with dignity--without
living in fear of violence or intimidation--in our time
and for generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2017, as
Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to
commemorate this day with events and activities that
teach us about this critical foundation of our Nation's
liberty, and that show us how we can protect it for
future generations at home and around the world.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two
thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.