Washington, D.C., February 22, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today applauded the Virginia Senate's rejection of HJ537, a proposed amendment to Section 16 of Virginia's Bill of Rights, "Free exercise of religion; no establishment of religion."

The amendment would have undermined the free exercise of religion and the separation of church and state embodied in the First Amendment of Virginia's Bill of Rights. The proposed amendment was defeated 10 to 5 in committee.

"In rejecting this flawed amendment, the Virginia Senate has preserved Virginia's legacy as a cradle of religious freedom," said David C. Friedman, Director of ADL's Washington D.C. Regional Office. "We are pleased that the Virginia Senate chose not to tamper with the words of our founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and James Madison which have stood the test of time for over 200 years."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.