Last year, Frederick Clarkson, a journalist who has spent decades exposing various schemes of Religious Right groups, uncovered a doozy of a story: Several far-right outfits, led by the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, had come together to form a new Christian nationalist effort called Project Blitz.
The idea behind Project Blitz is to swamp state legislatures with bills that would undermine church-state separation. Groups behind the Blitz proposed starting small with measures that they believe most Americans will deem non-controversial, such as bills calling for the posting on “In God We Trust” signs in public schools and government buildings. From there, they aim to move up the ladder to even more harmful bills, such as proposals restricting LGBTQ rights and measures codifying the right of people to cite religious belief as a basis for discrimination.
We’re already seeing fallout from this. A few states have passed the “In God We Trust” bills, and the recent spate of “Bible literacy” class measures, which have been endorsed by President Donald Trump, can be traced to Project Blitz.
It’s a nefarious plot, but the good news is that Americans United is fighting back. Our Public Policy Department is monitoring Project Blitz-inspired legislation in the states and urging lawmakers to reject it. Our Legal Department stands ready to challenge bills that we believe are unconstitutional. AU’s Department of State Outreach and Engagement is mobilizing people on to the ground to battle the Blitz, and our Communications Department is working to educate Americans about this new threat.
That’s where you come in. Word is starting spread about Project Blitz, but we need to reach more Americans, make them aware of this new threat and arm them with the material they need to stop it. With that thought in mind, Americans United has created a special page on its website dedicated to collecting information about Project Blitz.
Here you’ll find a timeline, a Project Blitz primer, links to media stores about the Blitz and even copies of the playbook that the Religious Right groups backing the Blitz have released.
You’ll also find a short video that explains what Project Blitz is and why it’s so dangerous. Below the video, you’ll find links that make it easy for you to post it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I urge you to share it far and wide.
Project Blitz is the latest effort by a band of theocratic Christian nationalists to force all of us to live under their narrow and oppressive version of faith. It’s a direct assault on the church-state wall, and Americans United intends to block it. I urge you to join this effort.
