Independence Day 2019: Fighting for All Life and Liberty

For many here in the United States, Independence Day means a day off, spending it with family and friends, enjoying good food and nice weather, and a spirit of celebration for the freedoms this country has allowed us to enjoy.

At the ACLJ, we continue to fight for the freedom and independence of Christians around the world who are suffering, and being denied those human rights because of their faith.

Sixteen year-old Leah Sharibu remains a prisoner of the Nigerian Islamic militia Boko Haram because she will not renounce her faith in Jesus and convert to Islam. The bloodthirsty terror group which has sworn allegiance to ISIS has threatened to murder this young woman, or enslave her for the rest of her life.

Frustrated by the empty promises of her own President, who has promised to rescue her captive daughter but to date has done little, Leah’s heartbroken mother Rebecca recently traveled to America to seek help.

Leah’s mom appeared before a conservative gathering discussing Nigerian persecution in D.C. and pleaded for intervention, saying:

“I am Rebecca Sharibu. I stand here pleading with government of U.S. Please help me!” Sharibu said at the opening of the event as she started crying. “Please help me bring my daughter back.”

We cannot celebrate independence and ignore the heartfelt pleas of a mother in pain whose daughter has been robbed of her own freedom.

The ACLJ has reached out to the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) through our European affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), delivering critical written submissions and oral presentations urging intervention for Leah’s safe release. As stated in our latest written submission:

It is imperative that the U.N. take swift action and work with the government of Nigeria to ensure that Leah is brought home safely and to put an end to the atrocities being carried out in Nigeria by Boko Haram. No child should have to live under the fear of being abducted, enslaved, or killed.

We just delivered a critical oral intervention at the HRC warning that Leah’s life is not the only one in danger. The violence against Christians is spreading from Nigeria, to nearby Cameroon and Chad. If nothing is done it will continue to spread, endangering the lives and freedoms of countless Christians.

The ACLJ is also dedicated to the freedom of all people to live. That’s why we are continually fighting to defend defenseless unborn babies and the pro-life workers who stand on the frontlines to protect them.

We’re involved in a critical lawsuit defending the free speech of pro-life counselors who are having their voices silenced by the abortion lobby. And we will not stop our battle to defund Planned Parenthood, the powerful abortion giant pushing for horrific new abortion laws and raking in record profits as it kills hundreds of thousands of unborn babies, denying them the freedom to live. 

The Declaration of Independence lists the inalienable rights of all people as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The abortion lobby is working hard to strip those rights from well over a half-million innocent babies every year. And it uses your tax dollars to do so regardless of your beliefs or moral principles. That’s not only robbing you of your money, but of your liberty to choose whether you want to support abortion or not.

This Independence Day, while you gather with loved ones, take a moment to pray to for all the Christians being persecuted around the world, who are not free to worship or pray publicly without the fear of violent retribution. And pray for the defenseless lives we are committed to defending by fighting new pro-abortion legislation, supporting pro-life laws, and working to defund the taxpayer supported Planned Parenthood.

We will continue to pray for this great nation, and work nonstop to defend all life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. God bless America!