Dear Friend,
The FBI’s 2024 Hate Crime Statistics reveal a disturbing but unsurprising reality: Religion continues to motivate hatred and perpetuate violence. The law enforcement agency’s most recent report marks the second-highest number of annual hate crimes in over three decades, with well over 11,000 incidents reported.
Nearly a quarter of these crimes stemmed from religious prejudice, second only to racial and ethnic bigotry. Approximately one-fifth resulted from sexual-orientation and gender-identity biases, which are also often, though not always, rooted in religious dogma.
Trump and his administration have repeatedly claimed U.S. Christians are being “persecuted,” but the data tell a much different story. It’s non-Christian religious minorities — especially Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs — who are disproportionately the victims of religiously-motivated violent crime.
Furthermore, a PRRI survey found Americans who adhere to or sympathize with Christian Nationalism, like many of the president’s most fervent supporters, are far more likely to agree that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country.”
It’s deeply troubling that any person would be violently targeted because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. That this is happening and is getting worse is the predictable result of normalizing bigotry, extremism, and the misuse of religion in our politics and national discourse.
Of course hateful violence will proliferate in an environment where leaders fail to denounce religiopolitical assassinations or the disinformation that led to an anti-vaccine gunman firing 500 rounds at federal buildings.
While the FBI’s data indicate nonreligious Americans faced far less violent crime than other religious minorities, we do know atheists continue to experience discrimination. In 2019, American Atheists conducted the U.S. Secular Survey. Out of almost 34,000 participants, more than half reported bias from family; nearly one-third in schools; and over one-in-five in workplaces. The toll of this stigma and isolation has very real consequences on mental health.
Research supports the idea that the secular communities we’re building across the country truly matter. Joining national or local secular organizations, like American Atheists and our 230+ affiliate groups, can reduce depression and loneliness by creating spaces where people can live authentically and connectedly without fear.
Your support helps us expand these communities nationwide and fuels our fight for the absolute separation of church and state. Together, we are challenging the weaponization and privileging of religion while advancing secular Americans’ rights and well-being. And we are working together to achieve social inclusion for nonbelievers while combatting religious hate.
Donate $25 or more today to help us protect our secular community and promote a more inclusive and resilient society where each of us can live free from stigma and violence — and where religious freedom protects all of us, not just a faithful few.
In solidarity,
Nick Fish
President
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507 and our Combined Federal Campaign number is 52217.
American Atheists
225 Cristiani Street
Cranford, NJ 07016
United States