Advocacy
New Resource: What Mahmoud v. Taylor Means for Public Schools
The National Women’s Law Center, with the support from Interfaith Alliance and other partners, has released a new resource on the U.S. Supreme Court’s harmful decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor. The Court’s June 27, 2025 ruling seriously endangers students’ access to safe and inclusive public education by holding that a school district’s decision to not allow parents to opt their children out of storybooks featuring LGBTQ+ people conflicted with their free exercise rights.
Far-right extremists are already trying to over-interpret this decision, wrongly suggesting it requires schools to censor inclusive content or limit protections against harassment and discrimination. This is not what the court decided.
This resource makes clear what the decision does and does not do. It includes talking points and a template letter to help parents, educators, advocates, and faith leaders push back against misuse of the decision and ensure schools continue upholding their legal and ethical obligation to provide safe, inclusive education for all students.
Transcript
Department of Education Gets Patriotism Wrong
Interfaith Alliance, together with major religious organizations committed to religious freedom and education, has submitted a formal comment to the U.S. Department of Education opposing the proposed priority and definitions on promoting patriotic education.
Moral Courage in Action: Faith Communities Confront Executive Overreach
This June, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to California following widespread protests against a series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city; protesters stood in solidarity with immigrant communities and voiced opposition to mass deportation. Executive overreach under the guise of making communities “safer” threatens the freedom and safety of protesters and distorts democratic norms. In August, the administration further displayed overreach by deploying National Guard troops and quelling protests in Washington, D.C. In September, the administration announced that Portland, Oregon, would be the next city to have troops mobilized in its community. In response, faith communities, along with their partners, have not relented and are pushing back in defense of immigrant rights and the integrity of our democracy.