FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2025
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.
Rev. Paul S. Tché, President of the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a signatory to the statement, said, “As Disciples of Christ, we believe the Lord’s Table is open to all, a witness to God’s reconciling love. In that same spirit, our democracy must remain a table where every voice can be heard without fear of violence or retaliation. As people of faith, we must be clear: hate speech that fuels division or justifies harm has no place among us. We call on our leaders to denounce every word and act that incites violence and to choose instead the way of peace, justice, and the common good.”
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.
About Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The mission of the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry (CUIM) is to embody the Disciples vision of unity and collaborate with ecumenical and interfaith partners to create a more just and peaceful world.
