[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 7617-7618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01485]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 7617]]


                Proclamation 9569 of January 13, 2017

                
Religious Freedom Day, 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 
                religious belief and the freedom to live our lives 
                according to them. Religious freedom safeguards 
                religion, allowing us to flourish as one of the most 
                religious countries on Earth, but it also strengthens 
                our Nation as a whole. Brave men and women of faith 
                have challenged our conscience and brought us closer to 
                our founding ideals, from the abolition of slavery to 
                the expansion of civil rights and workers' rights. And 
                throughout our history, faith communities have helped 
                uphold these values by joining in efforts to help those 
                in need--rallying in the face of tragedy and providing 
                care or shelter in times of disaster.

                As they built this country, our Founders understood 
                that religion helps strengthen our Nation when it is 
                not an extension of the State. And because our 
                Government does not sponsor a religion--nor pressure 
                anyone to practice a particular faith or any faith at 
                all--we have a culture that aims to ensure people of 
                all backgrounds and beliefs can freely and proudly 
                worship without fear or coercion. Yet in 2015, nearly 
                20 percent of hate crime victims in America were 
                targeted because of religious bias. That is 
                unacceptable--and as Americans, we have an obligation 
                to do better.

                If we are to defend religious freedom, we must remember 
                that when any religious group is targeted, we all have 
                a responsibility to speak up. At times when some try to 
                divide us along religious lines, it is imperative that 
                we recall the common humanity we share--and reject a 
                politics that seeks to manipulate, prejudice, or bias, 
                and that targets people because of religion. Part of 
                being American means guarding against bigotry and 
                speaking out on behalf of others, no matter their 
                background or belief--whether they are wearing a hijab 
                or a baseball cap, a yarmulke or a cowboy hat.

                Today, we must also remember those outside the United 
                States who are persecuted for their faith or beliefs, 
                including those who have lost their lives in attacks on 
                sacred places. Religious liberty is more than a 
                cornerstone of American life--it is a universal and 
                inalienable right--and as members of a global 
                community, we must strive to ensure that all people can 
                enjoy

[[Page 7618]]

                that right in peace and security. That is why my 
                Administration has worked with coalitions around the 
                globe to end discrimination against religious 
                minorities, protect vulnerable communities, and promote 
                religious freedom for all. We have also worked to 
                ensure that those who are persecuted for their 
                religious beliefs can find safety and a new home in the 
                United States and elsewhere.

                America has changed a great deal since Thomas Jefferson 
                first drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious 
                Freedom, but religious liberty is a right we must never 
                stop striving to uphold. Today, let us work to protect 
                that precious right and ensure all people are able to 
                go about their day in safety and with dignity--without 
                living in fear of violence or intimidation--in our time 
                and for generations to come.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2017, as 
                Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to 
                commemorate this day with events and activities that 
                teach us about this critical foundation of our Nation's 
                liberty, and that show us how we can protect it for 
                future generations at home and around the world.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2017-01485
Filed 1-18-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P