CONTACT:
Logan Bayroff, West End Strategy Team
lbayroff@westendstrategy.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 13, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC – Interfaith Alliance, a national leader in defending religious freedom and multi-faith democracy, today released a new white paper report, “Together Against Hate,” that details how interfaith movements can most effectively work together to combat hate-based violence by confronting white Christian Nationalism.
At a time of surging hate-based violence against Jews, Muslims, trans people and many other vulnerable communities, and with the Trump Administration about to take office, the report frames the current crisis of hate in America and highlights best practices that faith communities can adopt to more effectively combat bigotry. It reviews recent case studies of notable interfaith efforts to confront hate in local communities, and makes five notable recommendations for future action steps to help defeat this threat.
“At a deeply frightening historical moment for so many vulnerable minorities in our country, this report helps send a message that we have power to resist, and that no one has to face the threat of hate-based violence alone,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. “We can and must work together across lines of faith to successfully confront those who would attack and divide us. This report shares powerful lessons and recommendations drawn from critical work that has been done in local communities across the country.”
The report was authored by Zev Mishell, Interfaith Alliance’s National Programs Associate and an affiliate of Harvard Divinity School’s program in Religion and Public Life. It is based on extensive research and interviews with nearly two dozen advocacy organizations dedicated to faith-based organizing, upholding civil rights and confronting hate.
On Thursday, January 16, at 4 pm ET, Interfaith Alliance will host a webinar to discuss the report’s findings and highlight the power of faith communities to take on the crisis of hate.
The discussion will be moderated by interfaith strategist Maggie Siddiqi. She’s currently the Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education, and previously served as senior director of the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress and director of communications and strategic initiatives at the El-Hibri Foundation.
The webinar is open to media – please RSVP at this link.
Speakers will include:
Nina Fernando, Executive Director, Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign
Zev Mishell, National Programs Associate, Interfaith Alliance
Rachel Carroll Rivas, Interim Director, Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project
Graham West, Managing Director of Policy and Communications, Sikh Coalition
Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.