Appeal of Conscience Foundation (AFC) and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) together with an interfaith coalition of religious leaders and Houses of Worship to stand up against antisemitism and all faith-based hate, by delivering a united message on Sunday, September 7th, 2025. From New York City to San Francisco, people of faith across the United States took part in a historic demonstration of interfaith unity.

Stand Up Sunday included over 1.5 million people of faith nationwide. Many of these houses of worship have experienced targeted acts of violence themselves and have a deep understanding of the impact it has. His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who was in Slavonia at the time, delivered a poignant video message from Jasenovac Memorial Park.

Since 2001, the ACF has been addressing the alarming rise of attacks against houses of worship, underscoring the enduring importance of its mission to embrace a philosophy of mutual respect and religious freedom. That by standing up for one another’s differences, we not only strengthen our own but all faith values and beliefs.

This multi-faith event comes at a pivotal moment: Attacks on religious institutions and people of faith have surged at alarming rates across the United States; in Churches, Synagogues, Temples, Mosques and other Houses of Worship. Since 2021, the number of religious-based hate crimes has doubled, drawing the attention of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, which now classify such attacks as a form of terrorism, acts intended to instill fear, disrupt communal worship, and make people feel unsafe in sacred spaces.

Houses of worship are being forced to divert critical funds from ministry and outreach to security infrastructure, now the largest portion of their budget. This shift reflects a disturbing climate where faith communities must prioritize protection over purpose.

Source: ACF