Backup Documents 12/12/2023 Item # 4A 4A
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, since 1993 the President of the United States has proclaimed January 16
of each year as Religious Freedom Day and called on all Americans to
commemorate the day with events and activities that teach us about this
critical foundation of our nation's liberty; and
WHEREAS, the celebration of Religious Freedom Day commemorates the signing of the
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, penned by Thomas Jefferson and
adopted by the Virginia House of Burgesses January 16, 1786; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute declared religious liberty a natural right and any
attempt to subvert it "a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of
our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to
propagate it by coercions on either." The Statute inspired religious liberty
protections in the First Amendment, which have stood for nearly two-and-
a-quarter centuries; and
WHEREAS, the Liberty Bell, on display at Freedom Hall in Philadelphia, is inscribed
with "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the people thereof,"
Leviticus 25:10; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Collier County desire that their elected representatives
confirm the principle of Religious Freedom;
NOW THEREFORE, be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier
County, Florida, that January 16, 2024, be designated as
NATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY
DONE AND ORDERED THIS 12th bay of December 2023.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
RICK LOCA , CHAIRMAN