Presented by Facing History and Ourselves in partnership with the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom, the Give Bigotry No Sanction project, is anchored in George Washington’s 1790 Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island—a foundational document of religious tolerance.

The project inspires thoughtful conversations about matters of religious freedom in our increasingly diverse society.

Find text and images of the Washington-Seixas letters, multimedia resources, and information on how the letters were exchanged and the historical period they were written in.

Bring the conversation about religious freedom and civic participation to your classroom with free lesson plans and activities.

The George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom™ (GWIRF) is a non-profit [501(c)3] organization devoted to promoting open, respectful discussion about religious liberty and the separation of church and state, and exploring the contemporary ramifications of these concepts in the United States and across the globe. GWIRF is deeply committed to fostering a dynamic environment for students, teachers, and the public in which this exploration can take place. Through the lens of George Washington's Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, RI of 1790, the Institute empowers educators, students and citizens of all ages around the world to address issues of religious freedom and "liberty of conscience."

Through partnership with Facing History, and sponsorship of our Give Bigotry No Sanction project, GWIRF continues to help spread a vision of the United States, first articulated by George Washington, as a country in which liberty is afforded to all. Read more about Ambassador John L. Loeb, the founder of the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom.