Why is the government letting a Chinese-backed company bulldoze sacred US land?

This summer, like many Americans, I returned to my hometown.

The familiar contours of the landscape — the Great Lakes, sand dunes, and lush forests — carried with them memories not only of childhood but of something deeper: a sense of rootedness. Land is never just geography. It holds meaning. And when that meaning comes from religious devotion, religious liberty demands our respect.

Religious freedom means little if it only shields believers from fines or jail. It must also protect sacred spaces from destruction.

That is why what’s happening to the Apache Stronghold — a coalition of San Carlos Apache tribal members and other Native Americans — is not just a local controversy. It’s a national shame.

The United States government has approved a plan to transfer Oak Flat,

Continue reading