National Religious Freedom Day | |
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Observed by | United States of America |
Date | January 16 |
Next time | 16 January 2018 |
Frequency | annual |
Related to | National Day of Prayer, Thanksgiving |
National Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia General Assembly's adoption of Thomas Jefferson's landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. That statute became the basis for the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and led to freedom of religion for all Americans.
Religious Freedom Day is officially proclaimed on January 16 each year by an annual statement by the President of the United States.