Hello everyone. I must say I am very nervous. So, so please.
Well, thank you, Ambassador Waltz, for this invitation. It is an honour to stand on this stage with you and the other distinguished speakers here today, to shine a spotlight on the deadly threat faced by thousands of Christians in Nigeria. I would like to thank President Trump for prioritising this issue and for his leadership on the global stage, and calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria, to combat extremism, and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.
I stand here as a proud New Yorker with a deep sense of gratitude that we live in a country where we can freely and safely worship God regardless of one’s creed, background, or politics. No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion, like I recently stated on social media. And we don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.
We’re way beyond thinking or expecting or assuming for, you know, the person sitting next to you to have the exact same beliefs. We’re beyond that. That’s ridiculous.
But that shouldn’t make one person feel less safe than anyone in any room. Music has taken me around the globe. I have seen how people, no matter their language, culture, or religion, come alive when they hear a song that touches their soul.
Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith, regardless of who we are, where we live, and what we believe. But today, faith is under attack in way too many places. In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed.
Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray. Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries across the world, and it demands urgent action. And I want to be clear. Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity. Nigeria is a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions and lots of beautiful bars that I can’t wait to see.
When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break just a little bit. And the foundation of the United Nations, with its core mandate to ensure peace and security, should shake. I am joined here today by peace builders, by faith leaders, by those who saw violence, saw rising intolerance, saw the threats clearly before us, and chose not to look the other way.
I am inspired by their work to build interfaith ties, to see the humanity across the lines which might divide us, and to fight for security and liberty for all those who pray. I look forward to our discussion today, and I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace. Barbs, I know you’re somewhere listening.
I love you so very much. You have been the ultimate light in my life and career for so long. I appreciate you, and I want to make it very clear once again that this isn’t about taking sides.
This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for my entire career, and I will continue to stand for that. For the rest of my life, I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their beliefs.
Thank you.
