Commentary: Big Tent Ideas

Freedom At Home, Persecution Abroad

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As fireworks light the sky this Fourth of July, Americans will celebrate 250 years of independence — two and a half centuries since a bold experiment in liberty took root on this continent. We will gather with family, fly our flags and reflect on the freedoms we often take for granted: the freedom to speak, to worship, to assemble and to live according to our convictions.

But as we mark this milestone, it is worth asking a sobering question: What does it mean to celebrate freedom in a world where it remains out of reach for so many?

The American founding was built on a radical idea: that rights are not granted by governments, but given to us by God. The Declaration of Independence makes this plain, asserting that all men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” These were never meant to be privileges reserved for a fortunate few based on geography. They were understood to be universal truths. And yet, 250 years later, they are far from universally realized.

Here at home, we continue to debate how best to exercise our freedoms, particularly our religious freedoms. These debates are often spirited and sometimes contentious — but they are the mark of a society that has the luxury of disagreement. While Americans argue over the contours of freedom, others are still fighting for its existence at all.

Nowhere is this contrast more stark than in Northern Nigeria.

There, Christian communities face not just restrictions, but targeted violence. Families are driven from their homes. Churches are destroyed. Lives are lost — not because of politics or economics, but simply because of their faith. In many cases, they receive little to no protection from their own government. There is growing concern that authorities have, at best, failed to act and, at worst, turned a blind eye.

This is not merely a regional crisis. It is a human one.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” His words, born out of America’s civil rights movement, still speak far beyond our borders. If freedom is truly universal, then its denial anywhere should matter to us.

Recognizing this does not diminish our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy. Nor should it. True patriotism begins with gratitude, but it doesn’t end there. It calls us not only to celebrate what we have inherited, but to steward it responsibly — to recognize that not everyone shares the freedoms we do.

Encouragingly, the United States has begun to respond.

Secretary Marco Rubio recently announced that the State Department will restrict U.S. visas for individuals involved in violations of religious freedom, including those connected to persecution in Nigeria. This signals a willingness to use American influence to hold bad actors accountable.

Legislation such as HR 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, also aims to address these concerns, though it remains in committee.

These are important steps. But they raise a critical question: Is it enough?

Government action is essential, but it is not sufficient. The American experiment has always depended on its people—citizens who understand that freedom carries both privilege and responsibility.

So, what can everyday Americans do?

First, we can choose awareness over indifference. In a world saturated with information, it is easy to overlook crises that do not touch us directly. Taking the time to learn about what is happening in places like Northern Nigeria is a meaningful first step.

Second, we can use our voices. The same freedoms we celebrate on the Fourth of July — speech, assembly, and advocacy — can be used to speak for those who cannot. Contacting elected officials, supporting policies that promote religious liberty, and encouraging our pastors and other religious leaders to talk about the genocide from the pulpit.

Imagine if every pastor openly discussed what is happening to our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria, to pray and stand boldly for those who cannot stand for themselves.

Third, we can support organizations working on the ground. At Across Nigeria, we are working to improve the socioeconomic conditions that often fuel instability and extremism—creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping build pathways toward lasting peace.

Finally, we can reflect more deeply on what freedom truly means. The founders understood liberty not as a license for self-interest, but as a framework for human flourishing —something to be protected, yes, but also extended.

As America turns 250, we have much to celebrate.

Our history is not perfect, but it is marked by a continual striving toward the ideals set forth at our founding. The question before us is whether we will continue that work — not just within our borders, but in how we engage the world.

Because freedom, if it is truly unalienable, cannot be confined by geography.

This Fourth of July, as we honor the birth of our nation, we would do well to remember that liberty’s promise is not yet fulfilled. The most fitting way to celebrate our independence is to refuse to take it for granted — and to remain committed, in whatever ways we can, to a world where it is more fully realized for all.

Brad Brandon is the founder and CEO of Across Nigeria. Since 2018, he has been actively serving in the foreign mission field. He serves predominantly in high-risk, highly persecuted areas like Northern Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. Through Pastor Brad and the Across Nigeria team, ground-breaking work is being done to bring the Gospel into areas with the most intense opposition. His passion is to reach people in these areas with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to help persecuted Christians who live under the constant threat of violence because of their faith in Christ.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.