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Religious freedom is the cornerstone of the American experiment ^[2], yet it is increasingly under attack ^[3]. That’s why many Americans are joining the Fortnight for Freedom by spending the two weeks prior to the Fourth of July (June 21–July 4) expressing their gratitude for religious freedom and demanding greater protection of this cherished right.

All of us benefit from religious freedom, so we should all be prepared to defend it.

Here are a dozen ways that you can join the Fortnight for Freedom—beginning June 21—and show your support for religious freedom in your home, community, or place of worship. (Find out what others are doing here ^[4].)

1. Explain to a family member, neighbor, or friend why religious liberty is so important to American freedom generally ^[5] and the challenges ^[6] it faces today.
2. Write an op-ed for a local newspaper or a blog post for your congregation or civic group on the importance of religious liberty.
3. Call in to a local radio talk show to discuss why you’re grateful for religious liberty.
4. Invite leaders of local faith-based charities to an event, showing how their work serves your community and the role that their religious beliefs play in spurring them to help others ^[7].
5. Coordinate a volunteer day for your place of worship at a local faith-based charity.
6. Hand out Heritage’s “Let Religious Freedom Ring” fact sheet ^[6] at church, community centers, and Fourth of July parades.
7. Participate in Fourth of July parades with floats, signs, or t-shirts with the message “Let Religious Freedom Ring.”
8. Tweet and “like” on Facebook Heritage’s daily blog on religious freedom during the Fortnight. Be sure to use the #Fortnight4Freedom hashtag.
9. Include the importance of religious freedom in sermons, Sunday school lessons, or other religious teaching opportunities.
10. Hold a prayer vigil during the Fortnight.
11. Urge community leaders to make statements on behalf of religious freedom during the Fortnight for Freedom and to promote policies that protect the role of religious groups in American public life ^[8].
12. Ring the bells of your church at 12 noon (Eastern) on July 4 (or, if you don’t have a bell tower, consider gathering your congregation to ring hand bells).

Join Heritage in educating about religious freedom by taking one of these steps every day of the Fortnight, June 21–July 4.

Let religious freedom ring!