In just a few months, states across America will celebrate its semiquincentennial — a celebration marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
This celebration is a defiant declaration that our best days are still ahead. The Latin word semiquincentennial means “half of 500 years.” Indeed, we are only halfway to that day in our future when America celebrates 500 years since its founding. There is an unmistakable optimism tucked away in that very word, hinting that America is just getting started.
The Declaration of Independence’s “self-evident” truths — that all are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — are not empty words. Our Founders understood that genuine happiness stems from virtue, a principle that the Constitution, through revolution and subsequent amendments, was crafted to uphold and preserve.
Central to the very soul of America is religious freedom. Picture a nation where your deepest beliefs are thwarted simply because you cannot worship according to your conscience. Our Founders, many of whom fled relentless religious persecution, understood this truth more than any. Their fierce commitment to freely worship was not an attempt to elevate their individual faiths above any other — it was the cornerstone for building a nation on two occasionally conflicting principles: tolerance and liberty. Their unwavering dedication to both principles transformed religious freedom from a mere right to the defining essence of American identity.
Today, we live in a golden age of religious freedom in America. Our Supreme Court is consistent in its championship of this fundamental right. Recent rulings, such as Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin and Mahmoud v. Taylor, reaffirm its breadth and importance, encompassing core principles like the importance of charitable work and parental rights in educating children.
But mere celebration isn’t enough. How do we keep this right alive? George Washington, responding to Moses Seixas of the Touro Synagogue, promised such a nation, stating, “To bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” This was not just a polite exchange; it was a promise etched into the American soul — the freedom to practice faith, publicly and proudly.
The good news is, Americans are increasingly vocal about religion’s vital role in society. From everyday citizens to my fellow attorneys general across this country, a united front is forming to defend this core freedom. Our emerging response will be critical.
Contrast America’s approach to what we are witnessing across the world stage. While Americans enjoy robust religious protections, China is suppressing faith, destroying religious symbols and persecuting groups like Uyghur Muslims. Iran is imprisoning and abusing Baha’is for their beliefs. Even France has laws now banning religious attire in schools. These are not hypothetical, distant problems; they are happening right now. They are stark reminders of what we have to lose.
Ronald Reagan warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” This American ideal demands constant vigilance. Even in our “golden age,” religious bigotry and hatred persist. Justice Samuel Alito’s warning rings truer than ever: “Religious freedom is fragile.”
Truly, our work is not over. The future of religious freedom rests squarely on our shoulders. We cannot be complacent. We must stand together, vigilant against any attempt to dismantle this fundamental right. After all, our individual rights of speech and expression in the First Amendment are merely a logical extension of our right of free exercise.
Attorneys general across America are crucial in this fight. Many of my colleagues across the country are committed to legal action that will preserve and defend this core right. However, each of you is equally important. Regardless of your personal beliefs, regardless of your faith tradition — or even lack thereof — your voice is critical. Defending only our own rights, while ignoring or vilifying others, is a recipe for disaster.
We are only 250 years into this grand experiment in self-government and the pursuit of happiness. Religious freedom for all, not just some, is the bedrock of that experiment.
Together, we can forge a future where faith, freedom, and hope all burn unquenchably—an enduring testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This is our moment to rise—to stand as guardians of a divine trust that transcends time.