Welcome to AU's clearinghouse of recent speaking events with AU staff and partners. We may be working remotely, but our team is active across the country advocating for church-state separation to protect real religious freedom for all.
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SCOTUS Virtual Town Hall: Carson v. Makin
Dec. 9, 2021
AU President and CEO Rachel Laser moderated a panel discussion on the potential impact to church-state separation and public education if the Supreme Court forces Maine taxpayers to fund private religious education. Speakers included Randi Weingarten, president of the National Federation of Teachers; Holly Hollman, BJC general counsel and associate executive director; and Richard B. Katskee, vice president and legal director at Americans United. With introductions from Brian Silva, AU's vice president of outreach & engagement.
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SCOTUS Virtual Town Hall: Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
Dec. 2, 2021
AU National Organizer and Student Network Manager Alicia Johnson moderated a panel discussion about the future of abortion access, reproductive freedom and church-state separation following oral arguments in the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, involving Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban. Speakers included Alice Wang, a staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Michelle Colon of the abortion advocacy organization SHERo Mississippi. With introductions from Brian Silva, AU's vice president of outreach & engagement.
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Reproductive Freedom is Religious Freedom
Dec. 1, 2021
AU President and CEO Rachel Laser spoke about the connection between religious and reproductive freedom during a rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, the case of Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban.
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Understanding Religious Freedom: Embracing the Many Voices
June 8, 2021
The First Amendment guarantees the right to the freedom of religion to every person. This is a dialogue for participants to understand religious freedom via the experiences of racial and religious minority communities involved in advocacy work.
Speakers include Rachel Laser, President and CEO, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Charles Watson, Jr., Director of Education, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC), and Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director, SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund)
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Nashville AU Chapter 20th Anniversary
May 15, 2021
The event was held to celebrate the Nashville Chapter's 20th anniversary. Founders of the chapter were recognized.
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Secular Student Alliance Pre-Conference: Become a Secular Advocate
May 14, 2021
AU Youth Organizing Fellows Ranen Miao and Kevin Chisolm II join the Secular Student Alliance Virtual Conference to share advice on how to become a student advocate. They explain the Do No Harm Act and encourage everyone to be an advocate for church-state separation.
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Stop School Vouchers
March 15, 2021
Public schools educate 90% of America’s students. They're open to all students regardless of disability, religion, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other factor. Voucher programs divert public funds away from our public school system to fund the education of a few, select students at private, mostly religious, schools.
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When Public Dollars Fund Discrimination: How Private School Voucher Programs Harm the Students
March 3, 2021
Private school voucher programs divert resources away from our public schools, which educate 90% of our country’s students. Despite receiving public funds, private voucher schools often discriminate against students and deprive students who are most in need of critical rights and protections. In this webinar, we will discuss the dangers of private school voucher programs and the resources you can use to oppose voucher legislation in your state.
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Fighting Voucher Legislation in 2021: An Update on State Voucher Bills and Tools to Oppose Them
March 2, 2021
Panelists discuss the significant private school voucher bills that have already been introduced in State Legislatures around the country, additional legislative action to watch for during 2021 legislative sessions, and tools and resources made available to advocates.
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America's History of Religion and Politics
January 25, 2021
AU's VP of Outreach and Engagement, Sarah Gillooy talks with Brut Media about One nation under God. In God we trust. So help me God. Religion and government: it's complicated.
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Laying A New Foundation for Religious Liberty in the First 100 Days
January 12, 2021
Featuring: Rev. Carolyn Davis, Dr. Sabrina Dent, Rori Kramer, Rev. Adams Nicholas Phillips, Maggie Siddiqi, Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, and Jen Smyers
Experts in both domestic and international religious liberty matters offered their view on the current landscape of challenges and opportunities for a Biden-Harris commitment to religious liberty that will support protecting the rights and freedoms of all Americans and the human rights of people around the globe. (Hear Dr. Sabrina Dent at the 6:00 mark)
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Saint Louis AU Chapter Event
November 18, 2020
In this event with Americans United's Saint Louis Chapter, CEO Rachel Laser and AU Legal Director Richard Katskee discuss how the 2020 presidential election results affect religious freedom and church-state separation.
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Separation of Church and State and Racial Justice: A Critical Nexus
November 5, 2020
AU CEO Rachel Laser discusses our country’s longstanding relationship between religious freedom and racism, religious freedom’s misuse to advance a white Christian nationalist agenda, and what we can do to stop the abuse of an ideal that should make us all more, and not less, free.
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A Time to Heal, A Time to Build: A Conversation with Melissa Rogers and E.J. Dionne, Jr.
October 21, 2020
In a report published by the Brookings Institution, “A Time to Heal, A Time to Build,” Melissa Rogers and E.J. Dionne discuss the findings of their report. They argue that from its first day in office, the next administration must have a considered and detailed plan of action. It must also organize itself to deal with church-state questions that inevitably arise and can be more divisive and disruptive than necessary if not dealt with carefully. Finally, they addressed how, on issues related to religion, our country can achieve a new start.
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No Politicking: Protecting the Johnson Amendment
September 29, 2020
Houses of worship should be free from the scrutiny and influence of politics. The November election is a critical time for all Americans. It is usually when religious leaders remind their congregations and communities to exercise their civic duty by voting. This program highlights the history and importance of protecting the Johnson Amendment.
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The Morality of Freedom: Re-Imagining the Promises of the Constitution
September 17, 2020
On Constitution Day, Senior Faith Adviser Sabrina Dent spoke at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education.
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National Day of Action Kickoff
September 15, 2020
To get us inspired, fired up, and ready to go make our voices heard from coast to coast, CEO Rachel Laser kicked off our National Day of Action with Congressmen Joe Kennedy and Bobby Scott.
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National Advocacy Summit Workshop: Evening Plenary
September 14, 2020
Award-winning literary journalist Jeff Sharlet, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Family and C Street and executive producer of the Netflix documentary series based on the books, joined us as our keynote speaker for the 2020 National Advocacy Summit. Mr. Sharlet and CEO Rachel Laser spoke about a covert, secretive Christian Nationalist movement that operates on Capitol Hill. The plenary also featured our client Aimee Maddonna and a special musical performance by Scarlett Rabe.
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National Advocacy Summit Workshop: Advocating for Church State Separation in Your School
September 14, 2020
In this workshop, AU staff members Alicia Johnson and Mandy Caceres and student leader Katie Fleischer shared information about separation of religion and government in schools, as well as resources to advocate for the this separation in your community.
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National Advocacy Summit Workshop: Dismantling White Privilege
September 14, 2020
Corey D.B. Walker, Ph.D moderated a panel which discussed how working for religious freedom puts us on the front lines of addressing racism and Christian Nationalism in America.
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National Advocacy Summit Workshop: Remaking of the Courts
September 14, 2020
AU Senior Litigation Counsel Kenneth Upton moderated a panel which analyzed how changing courts could result in a government that permits religion to dictate public policy and authorizes discrimination against minorities.
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National Advocacy Summit Workshop: Protecting Religious Freedom in the States
September 14, 2020
State Policy Counsel Nik Nartowicz spoke with in-state lobbying experts about some of the bills we are fighting and what others can do to most effectively protect religious freedom in their states.
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National Advocacy Summit Workshop: Do No Harm Act
September 14, 2020
Vice President for Public Policy Maggie Garrett spoke with policy experts who have been leading the effort to pass the Do No Harm Act, which would ensure religion is never misused to harm others, as well as how to lobby Members of Congress.
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National Advocacy Summit: Opening Plenary
September 14, 2020
CEO Rachel Laser kicked off our National Advocacy Summit by exploring what’s at stake for us all and how we move forward together to uphold the separation between religion and government.
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AU National Advocacy Summit 2020 - A Welcome Address from Rachel Laser
September 14, 2020
AU President and CEO Rachel Laser virtually welcomed participants to AU's first National Advocacy Summit.
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HUD Anti-Trans Shelter Special Briefing
September 3, 2020
Senior Faith Adviser Sabrina Dent moderated a panel discussion for the Center for American Progress about the HUD Anti-Trans Shelter Proposed Rule with Rev. Cedric Harmon, Rev. Cherisse Scott, Rev. Alex Patchin McNeill, Sarah Hassmer, and Debbie Ojeda-Leitner.
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The Lie That Binds Book Review with Ilyse Hogue
September 1, 2020
The untold history in The Lie That Binds is resonant for all of us who care about separation of church and state. In the book, Ilyse and the research team at NARAL Pro-Choice America recount the history of how the formerly non-partisan issue of abortion rights was appropriated by the Religious Right to maintain white, patriarchal control in a changing world – and how, together, we can stop them. In this wide-ranging conversation, AU CEO Rachel Laser speaks with Ilyse about her book, as well as reproductive justice.
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A Conversation about Separation of Church and State | Rachel Laser and Monica Miller
August 10, 2020
AU CEO Rachel Laser spoke with Monica Miller about the separation between church and state as part of the American Humanist Association's 79th Annual Conference, Distant But Together: A Virtual Celebration of Humanism.
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Taking Back Religious Freedom in the Aftermath of the 2020 Crises
July 22, 2020
Speaking to the Secular Student Alliance, CEO Rachel Laser discussed how the COVID-19 and racial justice crises in our country have exposed a system that privileges some and disadvantages others. She also discussed how the Trump Administration and its religious extremist allies are turning religious freedom into religious privilege to advance the dangerous and harmful conservative political agenda of its religious extremist base.
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AU Summer Series: Young People & Religious Freedom with Youth Activists for Religious Freedom
June 30, 2020
What do young people think about separation of church and state? What issues inspire and excite them? Find out during this panel discussion with youth leaders and AU summer interns.
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AU Summer Series: Supreme Court Briefing
June 23, 2020
Two AU legal fellows look at the Supreme Court and where it’s headed on church-state issues. They’ll look a the church-state decisions that have come down by then and discuss any that may still be pending.
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AU Summer Series: Religious Freedom as a Social Justice Issue
June 16, 2020
This enlightening discussion will look at how separation of religion and government intersects with concerns such as LGBTQ rights, racial justice, the rights of women and others.
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Church and State: Separating Fact From Myth
Jun 10, 2020
Senior Adviser Rob Boston discussed the history of church and state separation in the United States.
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AU Summer Series: The Power Worshippers
June 9, 2020
Join author and researcher Katherine Stewart as she discusses her new book The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. It’s an insightful look at Christian nationalism and its ongoing effect on American politics.
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AU Summer Series: Religious Freedom 101
June 2, 2020
AU's Rob Boston gives a short, easy-to-understand history lesson on how our country got separation of church and state.
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Faith, Reason, & the Law During COVID-19
May 31, 2020
A webinar on May 31, 2020 hosted by the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology Virginia Union University Johnson A. Edsomwan Center for Faith Leadership and Public Life with guest panelists from Americans United for Separation of Church and State will discuss what you need to know before reopening houses of worship - legal, medical, and religious challenges during COVID-19.
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American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights & Social Justice Panel: Religious Freedom Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 14, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, most religious congregations have suspended congregational services, often moving to digital communication, such as live streaming of services, as an alternative; many did so even in the absence of state or local government directives calling for suspension of large gatherings, while others have followed suit once those directives were forthcoming. What, then, are the religious liberty implications of the pandemic-related restrictions on assembling for religious purposes? And what other questions are presented by responses to the pandemic, both in terms of impact on religious organizations and as they relate to other church-state concerns? AU's Vice President for Public Policy Maggie Garrett is featured on this panel to answer these important questions.
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You Mean I Can’t What? Religious Freedom in Difficult Times
April 8, 2020
In times of COVID-19, many people have questions about their religious freedom rights versus government intervention. Some communities are grappling with concerns about the separation of church and state. AU Senior Faith Adviser Sabrina Dent, DMin and Vice President for Public Policy Maggie Garrett participated in this webinar for people like you to understand the difficult decisions houses of worship face during stay-at-home mandates and what that means for religious freedom.
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Keeping Church and State Separate: Recent Developments
February 23, 2020
Associate Legal Director Alex Luchenitser spoke to the Philadelphia Ethical Society about our litigation against exclusion of non-theists from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' legislative-invocation practice, and other recent development in church-state separation law.
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Rebuilding The Wall: Creating a Movement for Separating Religion and Government
October 16, 2019
CEO Rachel Laser spoke at the Freedom From Religion Foundation's national convention.
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Religious Freedom in Trump’s America: Why It’s Unrecognizable and How We’re Fighting Back
May 18, 2019
CEO Rachel Laser spoke at the National Secular Society in London, England.
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Courts and Culture: Landmark Cases and a Supreme Court Preview
September 18, 2018
Associate Legal Director Alex Luchenitser served as a panelist at an Alliance Defending Freedom event on the American Legion v. American Humanist Association cross case (panel starts around 1:20:00).
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