This spring, for the second in more than three decades, followers of several faiths will observe religious holidays over the same month. From March 20 to April 21, this includes the celebrations of Spring Solstice, Ramadan, Passover, Mahavir Jayanti, Theravada New Year, Easter, Vaisakhi, and Ridván. This means that Muslims, Jews, Christians, Baha’is, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Pagans, and others will all be practicing their significant religious and cultural traditions around the same time. This overlapping of spring holy days will not happen again until 2054. This convergence is an important opportunity to remind our communities yet again, of our interconnectedness and a chance to recommit to our highest ideals for creating and caring for communities where everyone is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

We invite community and faith leaders across the United States of America to use this month to:

1. Reflect on our shared values and ideals, many of which are rooted in our own distinct sacred and ancestral traditions

2. Recommit to the work of realizing these shared values as a direct response to rising discrimination, hate, and division in this time

3. Write about it in a compelling and invitational opinion piece about what it means to live well together amidst our religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Then publish it in your local newspaper, a national media outlet, faith-based publication, or some other communication platform to share your message

We invite you to join us in spreading the message, shaping the narrative, and influencing our communities toward this greater vision.

Why an op-ed? Opinion pieces are a proven way to influence viewpoints and shift perspectives. A study at Yale University found that op-eds moved public opinion regardless of the individual’s political affiliation or previous stance on the issue. Letters to the editor (LTEs) are also great ways to share your message and are often much shorter than opinion pieces.

Why now? We are living in an era where our nation is sharply polarized and divided along racial, religious, and political lines, and where disinformation and malinformation are used as mobilizing tools for spreading fear and hate. As we anticipate yet another heated election cycle, we need strong shared messaging and proactive leadership to guide us through.

For inspiration and ideas, check out the 2022 page for a list of statements, opinion pieces, and more.

Messaging Guide

This guide outlines topline messaging suggestions, tips for writing your own opinion piece, and for getting it placed in your local news outlets. This guide can also be used to shape newsletters, blogs, and public speeches and sermons.

Sponsoring Organizations

This campaign is created in collaboration with several organizations including the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, Over Zero, and Faith in Public Life. If your organization would like to collaborate on this campaign in any capacity, please reach out to Cassandra Lawrence at Cassandra.Lawrence@S2SCampaign.org