Testimonies from the Commission
Standing for the Freedom that Started It All
See How Freedom Is Unfolding
One Meeting, One Moment at a Time
Religious liberty is under fire all across America—from school choice and parental rights, to public prayer and conscience protections. These are the ongoing battles over your rights to believe, speak, gather, and raise your family in faith.
President Trump has established the Religious Liberty Commission to look at the current threats and hostilities to religious freedom and to make recommendations to secure it for generations to come.
Watch real stories from our clients and attorneys straight from the frontlines of the fight to protect your First Freedom.
Our Clients
The Encinas Family
President Trump invited 12-year old Shea Encinas from southern California to share his story.
When Shea was in fifth grade, his elementary school forced him to read the book My Shadow is Pink with his kindergarten buddy—a book about radical transgender ideology that conflicted with his deeply held religious beliefs.
Valerie Cleveringa
The Commission heard testimony from our client Valerie Cleveringa, an elementary student from Michigan.
Valerie shared how she and her brother were told they couldn’t sing songs by Christian artists Brandon Lake and Colton Dixon for their school talent show because they were too religious.
Hannah Allen
President Trump introduced our client Hannah Allen of Honey Grove, Texas, who was told by school officials that she could not pray with her classmates and would have to “move behind a curtain or meet alone outside.”
After winning back her right to pray, Hannah had an opportunity to share her story at the White House during the first Trump administration.
Coach Joe Kennedy
The Commission heard from Coach Joe Kennedy, whose victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 set a historic precedent protecting religious expression for teachers, coaches and public employees nationwide.
Coach Kennedy recounted his personal struggle after the school fired him for taking a knee to pray on the 50-yard line after each football game. He shared about the toll that this legal battle took on him and his family.
Marisol Arroyo-Castro
Connecticut schoolteacher Marisol Castro testified about the discrimination she’s facing because she displayed a small crucifix in her personal space near her desk. After more than 30 years of exemplary service, the New Britain School District is threatening to fire Marisol because she didn’t remove the cross from her workspace.
She was first suspended without pay, then placed on administrative leave, and reassigned to a non-teaching role.
Our Attorneys
Keisha Russell
First Liberty Senior Counsel Keisha Russell testified at the Commission as an expert witness.
Keisha offered her perspective about ongoing legal challenges and attacks on religious liberty in public schools.
She described how teachers and religious schools have been censored from mentioning God, told they can’t pray before a game between two Christian football teams or pray after simply because of the religious nature of the prayer.
Jeremy Dys
First Liberty Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys testified as an expert witness, urging the Commission to act and hold school districts accountable to respect students of faith.
“As heard in the testimonies from current and former clients, religious liberty is currently under attack from those who ignore the protections guaranteed in the First Amendment,” Dys said. “We trust that the recommendations made today will reach judges and elected officials who are sworn to uphold and protect the U.S. Constitution.”
I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe. I hope no other family has to go through what mine did.
— Shea Encinas, First Liberty Client