
NEW YORK CITY – The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY), a diverse network of grassroots and immigrant religious leaders across NYC, announced today that it has become an affiliate partner of Interfaith Alliance, a leading national advocate for religious freedom, civil rights and healthy boundaries between government and religion.
Founded in 1997, ICNY catalyzes collaboration among grassroots religious leaders and secular civic officials to address New York’s most pressing social problems. It has been led since 2007 by the Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer. The group kicked off its partnership with Interfaith Alliance on Saturday, October 18th by co-sponsoring and organizing an interfaith prayer vigil ahead of the major “No Kings” protest in New York, attended by Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist leaders.
Founded in 1994 to help counter the rising influence of Christian nationalism, Interfaith Alliance is in a period of significant national growth and now has 27 affiliate partners in states across the country. The group is playing a major role in mobilizing faith communities nationwide to counter the threat of authoritarianism and to take action in defense of multi-faith democracy.
“The Interfaith Center of New York welcomes this opportunity to join the Interfaith Alliance’s powerfully-grounded network of local interfaith organizations committed to inclusivity, religious freedom, and the protection of democratic rights,” said The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center of New York. “ICNY envisions contributing to this network our wealth of experience with civically-engaged grassroots and immigrant faith leaders across New York City. We look forward to affiliating with the Interfaith Alliance and laying another local anchor windward against the antidemocratic forces currently threatening our country.”
“At a moment when bigotry, authoritarianism, injustice and inequality are on the rise, ICNY’s impressive work building dynamic grassroots faith partnerships to promote solutions is more important than ever,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. “We’re honored and excited to welcome ICNY as our new affiliate partner, and look forward to working closely with Rev. Breyer and the entire ICNY network of faith leaders and advocates to champion diversity, equality and justice in NYC and beyond.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Ben DePasquale, [email protected]
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Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information, visit interfaithalliance.org.

Interfaith Alliance is a leading advocate for multi-faith democracy and healthy boundaries between religion and government. It was among the founding organizations of a national sign-on letter, joined by more than 1,800 nonprofit organizations, voicing opposition to the proposed settlement agreement in National Religious Broadcasters v. Bessent, a case in which the Trump administration and a coalition of religious broadcasters sought to create an effective exemption to the Johnson Amendment, the 70-year-old law that bars 501(c)(3) organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Had the settlement been approved, religious leaders would have been able to make partisan endorsements from the pulpit without risking their tax-exempt status. Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas dismissed the case, finding it lacked jurisdiction.

Interfaith Alliance is a leading advocate for multi-faith democracy and healthy boundaries between religion and government. It joined a friend-of-the-court brief from religious organizations in Chiles v. Salazar, in support of Colorado’s right to protect LGBTQ+ youth from harmful, discredited “conversion therapy” practices.

Interfaith Alliance, a leading advocate for religious freedom and multi-faith democracy. will host the National Interfaith Town Hall: Building Momentum from No Kings on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.