When it comes to defending freedom of religion, the ACLU has never shied away from doing what's right, whether it's popular or not.

Provisions added to California law at the height of the McCarthy-era "Red Scare" have been used recently to discriminate against individuals because of their religious beliefs. The "loyalty oath" required to be signed by every individual in California seeking public employment is one of these provisions.

You may have seen news stories about Quakers who were denied jobs because they refused to sign this oath, which requires people to "defend" the country from "all enemies foreign and domestic." It's time that these stories became a thing of the past.

Your voice needs to be heard. Take action today! Please send a message to Gov. Schwarzenegger urging him to sign SB 115 (Lowenthal, D-Long Beach), which would provide a religious exemption to the loyalty oath.

The bill is now sitting on the Gov. Schwarzeneger's desk, awaiting his signature. Californians should not be required to violate their deeply held religious, moral or ethical beliefs in order to gain state employment.

Please join me in urging the governor to protect freedom of thought and belief.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a concerned voter, I am writing to urge you to sign SB 115 (Lowenthal), which provides for a religious exemption to the loyalty oath currently required of all state employees.

The existing loyalty oath was added to the state constitution in 1952 at the height of the McCarthy era. Sections of the oath have been struck down as unconstitutional, but as demonstrated in recent, highly publicized incidents, well-qualified applicants for public employment are denied employment because their religious convictions preclude them from signing the oath.

Californians should not be required to violate their deeply held religious, moral or ethical beliefs in order to gain state employment.

For these reasons I strongly urge you to sign SB 115.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 31, 2009