Over 100 National Faith Leaders Denounce Political Violence and Attacks on Free Speech and Nonprofit Independence

Clergy Across Traditions Call for Peace, Civil Discourse, and the Protection of Constitutional Freedoms

[Washington, DC] – More than 100 national faith leaders have signed a letter denouncing all forms of political violence and condemning attacks on free speech and the independence of nonprofit organizations. The statement, released today, warns against the growing normalization of violence and the rise of authoritarian threats to democratic freedoms in the United States.

Quoting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the leaders reaffirm that “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The leaders urge elected officials to reject violent rhetoric, refuse to normalize threats, and actively resist the dangerous drift toward authoritarianism. They also raise concerns about government efforts to target and retaliate against faith-based and nonprofit organizations that don’t conform to the divisive rhetoric of the Trump administration. 

“The First Amendment ensures that all individuals and organizations are protected from unlawful targeting by the government for exercising their beliefs, even those organizations with whom we disagree,” the leaders write. “Targeting organizations is an attack on free speech and the First Amendment and sets a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic norms in our country.”

Signatories are urging the President and all elected officials to unequivocally uphold freedom of speech and religious liberty, emphasizing that these rights are not partisan issues—they are fundamental guardrails of our democracy.

“After the assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman and the attempt on John and Yvette Hoffman and their daughter, Hope, by a man tied to Christian Nationalism, nobody knows better than Minnesotans the impact of ideologically-polarized violence. Minnesota Council of Churches led an interfaith press conference committed to invalidating political violence in June, five of our board and staff have already signed this leaders’ statement, and we are committed to continuing our depolarization work to shape a better future,” said the organization’s CEO Elder Suzanne P. Kelly. “Depolarization, or, trying  to find common ground with your enemy rather than dwelling on animosity, cannot happen without the freedom of expression upon which American democracy relies.” Kelly signed the statement, along with MCC board members Timothy Button-Harrison of the Church of the Brethren Northern Plains, Bishop Jen Nagel of the Minneapolis Area Synod ELCA, and Bishop Bill Tesch of the Northeast Minnesota Synod ELCA.

The statement concludes with a call to moral courage: “As people of faith, we believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and has inalienable dignity and worth. It is because of this that we believe that free speech is fundamental to our democracy, and it must be protected.”

For more information or to arrange interviews with signatories, please contact Andrea Collazo-Salazar from The Center on Faith and Justice at cfjmedia@georgetown.edu.