On Thursday, January 16 at 9 a.m., the Valentine, partners, local religious leaders, advocates and others will come together to celebrate Religious Freedom Day at The Valentine First Freedom Center in Shockoe Slip.
Experience music, readings from the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and remarks from Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf from Temple Beth-El.
This year's event is especially poignant, as we gather to engage in important dialogue about the rise of violence and vandalism directed at members of the Jewish faith and other religious minorities and how we can respond as a community. RSVP below or at thevalentine.org/RSVP. #RichmondStories
THU, JAN 16
2nd Annual Religious Freedom Day Celebration
In early August, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) again called for the release of Hu Shigen.
According to the USCIRFs website, Shigen is an underground church leader and religious freedom advocate in China. He was arrested in 2015, convicted in 2016 and remains in detention. You can read more about Shigen here: https://www.uscirf.gov/about-uscirf/hu-shigen
How does Shigen's experiences and those of other advocates inform how we talk about religious freedom, especially on an international level, in the twenty-first century? #FirstFreedom
USCIRF.GOV
PRESS RELEASE: USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer Calls for Release of Imprisoned Underground Church Leader Hu Shigen
"While ideas about religious liberty and tolerance are central to America’s founding and national story, different religious groups – including Catholics, Jews and Mormons – have suffered discrimination in the United States at various points in history. Today, Americans say some religious groups continue to be discriminated against and disadvantaged, according to an analysis of recent Pew Research Center surveys."
How does this belief by a majority of Americans in ongoing religious discrimination relate to the work we do at the First Freedom Center? How does it impact the story we tell about the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom? Read the article to learn more. Pew Research Center #FirstFreedom
PEWRESEARCH.ORG
Many Americans see religious discrimination in U.S. – especially against Muslims
Part of The Valentine First Freedom Center's mission is to educate not only about the history of religious freedom, but its modern day implications. Consider this July study from the Pew Research Center about the rise of religious restrictions across the globe. #FirstFreedom
PEWFORUM.ORG
How Religious Restrictions Have Risen Around the World
We're proud to announce the launch of a new video highlighting the Valentine First Freedom Center!
Give it a watch, learn more about this important, historic location and make sure to share far and wide. #FirstFreedom
YOUTUBE.COM
Welcome to the Valentine First Freedom Center!
