93 Results

Proposed Federal Rules Threaten the Religious Freedom of America's Needy

Article

February 13, 2020 Last month, the Trump Administration proposed sweeping changes to federal rules governing taxpayer-funded social services, changes that threaten the religious freedom of the most vulnerable in our nation. Over 20 years ago, the federal government made a sea change in how it provided taxpayer-funded social services by allowing houses of worship to compete for grants and contracts through a program called the “Faith-Based Initiative.” This change…

February 13, 2020

ADL Task Force Endorses Congressional Legislation in Support of Middle East Minorities

Press Release

New York, NY, February 4, 2020 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) Task Force on Middle East Minorities today endorsed three bipartisan pieces of federal legislation designed to increase U.S. support to vulnerable minority groups: the Deferred Removal for Iraqi Nationals including Minorities Act, the Resolution Supporting Coptic Christians in Egypt, and the Resolution Calling for the Global Repeal of Blasphemy, Heresy, and Apostasy Laws. First, the Task Force endorsed H.R. 2537…

February 04, 2020

ADL Letter to House Subcommittees Regarding the Trump Administration's Muslim Travel Ban

Letter

September 24, 2019 In a letter to the House Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee and the Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, ADL provided views on the discriminatory Muslim ban and expressed support for the NO BAN Act. September 24, 2019 The Honorable Zoe Lofgren Chairman Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Ken Buck Ranking Member Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship …

September 24, 2019

ADL Mourns the Passing of Justice John Paul Stevens

Press Release

New York, NY, July 17, 2019 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) mourns the passing of Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the third-longest serving justice in the history of the court and a staunch defender of civil rights and religious liberty for all Americans. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director, issued the following statement: “We mourn the passing of John Paul Stevens, a Justice who served with distinction for 35 years. Justice…

July 17, 2019

ADL Deeply Disappointed in Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Maryland Cross to Stand on Public Ground

Press Release

New York, NY, June 20, 2019 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today expressed deep disappointment at the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing a 40-foot Latin cross to continue to stand on a traffic island at a major intersection in Bladensburg, Maryland. ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt issued the following statement: We are alarmed that the Supreme Court has allowed a 40-foot memorial cross to remain on government property in Maryland. As Justice Ginsburg…

June 20, 2019

DoED Decision Will Require Taxpayers to Fund Discrimination

Article

March 20, 2019 The U.S. Department of Education (DoED) recently announced that it will ignore a longstanding requirement of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) limiting federally funded contracts, which provide schools with services such as special education or instruction, to secular vendors. As a result, religious organizations, including houses of worship, are now eligible to be such contractors. This decision is not legally required, will compel taxpayers to fund…

March 20, 2019

ADL to Supreme Court: WWI Veterans Memorial Dominated by 40-Foot Cross is Exclusionary and Unconstitutional

Press Release

New York, NY, January 31, 2019 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joined a broad coalition of religious and civil rights organizations in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to find that a 40-foot memorial cross dominating a veterans’ memorial on Maryland government property violates constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. In an amicus brief co-filed with Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) in American Legion v. American Humanist…

January 31, 2019

ADL Says Federal Religious Exemption for Foster Care Program is Discriminatory, Shameful and Immoral

Press Release

New York, NY, January 23, 2019 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) blasted as “shameful, illegal and immoral” today’s decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granting an exemption to a South Carolina faith-based foster child program allowing it to openly discriminate against Jews, gay couples and others who don’t follow their faith. “It is shocking that the federal government is openly sanctioning discrimination against Jews, LGBTQ…

January 23, 2019

Letter to House Leaders Regarding Anti-Semitism Awareness Act

Letter

December 04, 2018 In an ADL-led letter to House leaders, ADL and 12 coalition partners called for the enactment of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act before the end of the 115th Congress. December 3, 2018 The Honorable Paul D. Ryan Speaker United States of House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Majority Leader United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Minority Leader United States House of…

December 04, 2018

ADL and AEN Craft Model Policy for Universities to Ensure Study Abroad Opportunities Apply to All Qualified Students

Press Release

Washington, DC/New York, NY, November 15, 2018 … After two students were denied letters of recommendation for study abroad programs by University of Michigan faculty members attempting to make a political statement against Israel, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) have developed a model policy to ensure that universities promote clear standards guiding such faculty conduct in the future. The new model policy offers suggested guidance to…

November 15, 2018

ADL Urges Dept. of Health and Human Services to Reject Waiver That Would Allow Foster Agencies to Openly Discriminate

Press Release

New York, NY, October 23, 2018 … ADL today urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reject a waiver requested by the State of South Carolina that would allow federally funded foster agencies to deny applications of Jewish and other foster parents on the basis of religion. The waiver request was based on a local faith-based foster care agency, Miracle Hill Ministries, prospectively losing its federal funding because of the agency’s religious…

October 23, 2018

Letter to the Office for Civil Rights at HHS Regarding South Carolina Adoption Issue

Letter

October 23, 2018 In a letter to Roger Severino, Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ADL called for the rejection of South Carolina's request to allow federally funded, faith-based foster agencies within the State to deny applications of prospective Jewish and other foster parents on the basis of religion. October 23, 2018 Mr. Roger Severino Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health and Human…

October 23, 2018

Remarks by Robert Trestan to OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Paris

News

Ensuring Religious Freedom Remains Safe in France: Best Practices from America October 10, 2018 Introduction Anti-Semitism remains the world’s oldest forms of hatred. The targeting and scapegoating of Jews and Jewish communities dates back centuries. With the passing of each year, decade and century, the Anti-Semites have adapted, never giving up, always using the latest, most modern, most technologically advanced techniques to target, and intimidate us, and the one thing that has…

October 10, 2018

ADL Statement on Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Kennedy

Press Release

New York, NY, June 29, 2018 … Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt issued the following statement following the announcement of Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement: "While often the fifth and deciding vote on many cases, Associate Justice Kennedy has been an important voice on key cases throughout his 30 years of distinguished service on the Court. He has affected a broad range of civil…

June 29, 2018

Slogan: Free Palestine

Backgrounder

The slogan “Free Palestine” has long been used at rallies, in chants, on placards, online and graffitied by those advocating on behalf of Palestinian rights. Since October 7th, the slogan has been regularly used by anti-Israel activists and organizations on college campuses and elsewhere, and in numerous instances, it has been directed maliciously at Jews and others. In many ways, the term is similar to slogans advocating for other political causes, including &ldquo…

July 17, 2025

ADL Calls White House Executive Order on "Faith and Opportunity" a Step Backwards for Religious Liberty

Press Release

New York, NY, May 3, 2018 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called President Trump’s Executive Order on the “White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative” a step backwards for religious liberty. ADL is deeply concerned that the Order rolls back critical constitutional safeguards against religious coercion in federally funded social services and other programs. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement: ADL has a deep…

May 03, 2018

It's Not OK for Businesses to Discriminate in the Name of Religion

Article

ADL gay wedding cake, masterpiece cake shop scotus, SCOTUS gay wedding

December 01, 2017 By David Barkey, Religious Freedom Counsel & Southeastern Area Counsel The U.S. Supreme Court soon will hear oral arguments in a case called Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Cakeshop’s owner is asking the Court do something unprecedented – allow him based on religious objections to refuse service to customers for who they are. ADL recently joined an amicus brief to the Court filed by a coalition of civil rights and religious…

December 01, 2017

ADL Deeply Troubled by Passage of Tax Bill That Will Politicize Houses of Worship

Press Release

New York, NY, November 16, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is deeply troubled and disappointed by the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 1, “the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which effectively repeals the Johnson Amendment. For decades, this amendment has protected the integrity of houses of worship and other non-profit organizations by prohibiting them from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the…

November 16, 2017

ADL Welcomes House Committee Approval of Legislation to Protect Religious Institutions Against Threats

Press Release

New York, NY, November 2, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today applauded House Judiciary Committee approval of bipartisan legislation which would expand existing federal law to include threats against religious institutions – including houses of worship, Jewish community centers and Jewish day schools. The Senate is also considering a version of this legislation, titled “The Protecting Religiously-Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017.” Marvin D. Nathan, ADL…

November 02, 2017

ADL to Supreme Court: Reject Discrimination in Colorado Bakery Case

Press Release

New York, NY, October 30, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today joined a friend-of-the court brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging rejection of a bakery’s claim that the Free Exercise Clause to the First Amendment empowered it to refuse the sale of a wedding cake to a same-sex couple based on the owner’s religious beliefs. The brief filed by a coalition of civil rights and religious organizations asserts the Court should uphold a lower court ruling that the…

October 30, 2017