Proclamation 9569-Religious Freedom Day, 2017
Issued 2017-01-13 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
President Obama issued this proclamation on January 13, 2017, to mark Religious Freedom Day. The proclamation does not create new policies or change existing laws. Instead, it recognizes the day as an occasion to reaffirm America's commitment to religious liberty, which is protected by the First Amendment's guarantee that Congress cannot establish an official religion or prohibit people from practicing their faith.
The proclamation affects all Americans by emphasizing that religious freedom means people can practice any faith or choose not to practice religion at all, without government pressure or coercion. Obama noted that in 2015, nearly 20 percent of hate crime victims in America were targeted because of religious bias, and he called on Americans to speak out when any religious group faces discrimination. The proclamation also referenced the administration's work with international coalitions to protect religious minorities globally and help those persecuted for their beliefs find safety in the United States.
This matters because it uses the president's platform to highlight religious freedom as a fundamental American principle while addressing contemporary concerns about religious-based hate crimes and persecution. The proclamation calls on Americans to reject attempts to divide people along religious lines and to defend the religious liberty of all people, regardless of whether they wear "a hijab or a baseball cap, a yarmulke or a cowboy hat."
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2017 Proclamation 9569—Religious Freedom Day, 2017 January 13, 2017 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Believing that "Almighty God hath created the mind free," Thomas Jefferson authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom after our young Nation declared its independence. This idea of religious liberty later became a foundation for the First Amendment, which begins by stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." On Religious Freedom Day, we rededicate ourselves to defending these fundamental principles, pay tribute to the many ways women and men of different religious and non-religious backgrounds have shaped America's narrative, and resolve to continue forging a future in which all people are able to practice their faiths freely or not practice at all. Religious freedom is a principle based not on shared ancestry, culture, ethnicity, or faith but on a shared commitment to liberty—and it lies at the very heart of who we are as Americans. As a Nation, our strength comes from our diversity, and we must be unified in our commitment to protecting the freedoms of conscience and religiou