Stand Up Sunday
Appeal of Conscience Foundation and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), founded by Robert Kraft in 2019, are bringing together an interfaith coalition of religious leaders and Houses of Worship to stand up against antisemitism and all faith-based hate.
Amid rising antisemitic hate speech and violence, an interfaith coalition of Houses of Worship will deliver a united message on September 7th: The time is now to end antisemitism and all faith-based hate. From New York City to San Francisco, people of faith across the United States will take part in a historic demonstration of interfaith unity.
Stand Up Sunday will include over 1.5 million people of faith nationwide. Many of these houses of worship have experienced targeted acts of violence themselves and have a deep understanding of the impact it has.
Churches of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and New Jersey and the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Armenian Diocese of America, Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, National Council of Churches of Christ, and numerous Christian, African Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal, Presbyterian Churches as well as the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha will be participating.
Stand Up Sunday is connected to the Appeal of Conscience Foundation’s Respect The Other campaign.
Since 2001, the ACF has been addressing the alarming rise of attacks against houses of worship, underscoring the enduring importance of its mission to embrace a philosophy of mutual respect and religious freedom. That by standing up for one another’s differences, we not only strengthen our own but all faith values and beliefs.
This multi-faith event comes at a pivotal moment: Attacks on religious institutions and people of faith have surged at alarming rates across the United States; in Churches, Synagogues, Temples, Mosques and other Houses of Worship. Since 2021, the number of religious-based hate crimes has doubled, drawing the attention of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, which now classify such attacks as a form of terrorism, acts intended to instill fear, disrupt communal worship, and make people feel unsafe in sacred spaces. All houses of worship are being forced to divert critical funds from ministry and outreach to security infrastructure, now the largest portion of their budget. This shift reflects a disturbing climate where faith communities must prioritize protection over purpose.
“Attacking a house of worship hits the jugular vein of every faith community.”
–Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Founder and President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation
“STAND UP SUNDAY will be a powerful symbol of unity and a clear message that antisemitism and hate of any kind have no place in our communities. Now more than ever, faith leaders need to come together, lead by example, and show that our collective voice and moral compass are stronger than any force of division. By standing up for one another, we can create a world where every individual is safe, respected, and free from the threat of hate.”
– Robert Kraft, Founder, Foundation to Combat Antisemitism
“September 7 is the moment for us to stand shoulder to shoulder as people of faith to say enough is enough. We are all God’s Children and together we can silence the voices of hate and the perpetrators of violence. In this concerning time of rising antisemitism and faith-based hate, STAND UP SUNDAY underscores our core mission to “Respect the Other,” a call that is more urgent than ever. By standing together, we reaffirm that we have the ability to create a world of mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.”
– Karen Dresbach, Executive Vice President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation
“I commend the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism for their leadership in launching STAND UP SUNDAY, a powerful call for unity. At a time when antisemitism and hate against people of all faiths continue to rise, it is more important than ever that houses of worship across our great nation stand together shoulder to shoulder to denounce hatred in all its ugly forms. Silence in the face of such evil is not neutrality, it is complicity. As people of faith, we must raise our voices, open our doors, and extend our hands in solidarity. We are all God’s children, and an attack on one house of worship is an attack on all. May this initiative inspire courage, compassion, and conviction in every community.
– H.E. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York
“The Appeal of Conscience Foundation has consistently upheld the sacred pillars of “Respect the Other” and love among peoples of every faith. It is with deep pain that we Orthodox Christians, we are called to reject the path of hatred and instead affirm the divine image of God present in every human being, the true foundation of dignity and freedom. Stand Up Sunday, in partnership with the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, invites us to stand together in solidarity and to raise our voices clearly and courageously against antisemitism and all forms of hatred, which remain enduring wounds upon our shared culture.”
– H.E. Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Exarch of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
“The coming together of the iconic Religious Leaders in a most impactful partnership between the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism is a clarion call, No Desecration of Holy Sites, No Antisemitism, No Hate. We support this effort wholeheartedly and call upon everyone to Stand up Sunday.”
– Bawa Jain, Founding Secretary General, World Council of Religions