More than 150 people gathered at a half-day forum on January 17 to explore ways to support our secular democracy — a record attendance at a HumanistsMN event despite freezing temperatures.
Local and national leaders at the Religious Freedom Forum, which took place at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, expressed concern about the growing threat of Christian nationalism. They defended the true meaning of “religious freedom” — the constitutional principle that keeps church and state separate and protects the right of Americans of all faiths, or no faith, to practice their beliefs. And exposed how religious privilege undermines democracy.
Among the highlights:
*Mariko Hirose, chief program officer of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, discussed her organization’s fight against efforts to inject religion in public schools
*Rev. Susie Hayward of Creekside United Church of Christ, co-host of the podcast “American Unexceptionalism,” discussed the global fight against religious authoritarianism.
*Fish Stark, executive director of the American Humanist Association, spoke about the importance of separation of church and state to America’s democracy and the fight against tyranny. (See separate article.)
*A panel of Minnesota legislators — Sen. Jen McEwen and Reps. Brion Curran, Athena Hollins, and Andy Smith — discussed their fears about growing authoritarianism in the U.S., as witnessed by the current federal assault on Minnesota.
*Former student activist Beatrice Handlin spoke about her testimony at the Minnesota legislature about a bill designed to prevent religious discrimination in a state educational program.
*Over lunch, HumanistsMN awarded its 2026 Religious Freedom Champion award to Rep. Mike Freiberg, co-founder of the Legislature’s Secular Government Caucus. (See separate article.)
Fifteen secular, civil liberties, LGBTQ-rights, and other advocacy groups co-sponsored the forum, reflecting HMN’s effort to unite allies who also defend our secular democracy. (See their logos at left.)
The event was planned to observe National Religious Freedom Day, which commemorates the Virginia General Assembly’s adoption of Thomas Jefferson’s landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on Jan. 16, 1786. — Suzanne Perry
Click on photos to enlarge.
A link to a video of the Religious Freedom Forum appears below the photos.
Photos by Craig Stilen. From left to right: 1. Registration. 2. Christine Retkwa at the HMN table. 3. HMN President Paul Rupp. 4. Mariko Hirose 5. Rev. Susie Hayward. 6. Fish Stark with MN Reps. Hollins, Craig, and Curran. 7. Legislative panel with Sen. McEwen on screen. 8. Stark with HMN’s Audrey Kingstrom 9. Beatrice Holdin. 10. HMN’s Nick Hayden and Paul Rupp. 11. HMN’s Mitch Thompson and Bob Aderhold. 12. Lunch. Co-sponsor tables: 13. OutFront Minnesota. 14. Gender Justice. 15. Minnesota Atheists. 16. ACLU of Minnesota. 17. Or Emet. 18. Christians Against Christian Nationalism. 19. Freedom From Religion Foundation. 20. SMART Recovery. 21. Health Care for All Minnesota. 22. First Unitarian Society. 23. HMN’s Abigail Jackson.
