In Trump V. Illinois Amicus Brief, Interfaith Alliance Tells Supreme Court that Right to Protest is Key to Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON — Interfaith Alliance, a leading national advocate for religious freedom, has filed an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in Trump v. Illinois, supporting a ruling by a federal judge that prohibits the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Illinois. Democracy Forward is providing pro bono legal representation to Interfaith Alliance in the case.

Interfaith Alliance’s brief argues that upholding the ruling and protecting the right to peaceful protest is essential to protecting religious freedom, emphasizing that for many communities of faith, nonviolent protest is a sacred religious practice protected by the Constitution.

“As in other protest movements, religious groups and faith communities have been front and center in peaceful protests against the government’s immigration policies in Chicago…Allowing the government to deploy armed National Guardsmen in response to those protests would threaten to escalate an already volatile situation and, given soldiers’ combat training and lack of training in civilian policing, would raise the specter of violent military-civilian confrontations that would undoubtedly chill the religious expression of peaceful protesters.”

“When people of faith take to the streets, they are living out their deepest religious convictions, while exercising their First Amendment rights,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. “Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly, and the Free Exercise values of the First Amendment work together to protect faith-based protests. From the diverse faith communities who marched during the Civil Rights Movement to today’s faith leaders standing with immigrants and the marginalized, religious protest has always been central to American democracy. The government cannot be allowed to silence these sacred expressions through the use of authoritarian military force."

The brief documents how religiously motivated demonstrations such as vigils and marches represent core expressions of faith protected under the Free Exercise Clause.

Democracy Forward CEO and President Skye Perryman is also a member of the Interfaith Alliance Board of Directors.

“In our democracy, the military cannot chill free speech and religious expression, but that is exactly what President Trump is trying to do,” said Perryman. “We are honored to continue our work with the brave leaders at the Interfaith Alliance to ensure the Court hears people of every denomination demanding that their First Amendment rights are protected, and that President Trump must not misuse the National Guard.”

In addition to participating in this case, Interfaith Alliance also previously filed an amicus brief in the similar case of Newsom v. Trump. The group serves the steering committee of NO KINGS, helping to mobilize faith communities to participate en masse in the recent historic nonviolent protests that took place on October 18.

Contact: Ben DePasquale, bdepasquale@westendstrategy.com

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‍‍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.