Caroline Levit, only 27 and new to political life, raised her voice for religious freedom by confronting Judge Charles Hargrove in Washington, D.C. Hargrove had long been respected in the capital’s law community until Levit claimed in a high-profile case that Hargrove showed religious bias.
The lawsuit made it clear that there was a pattern of concern. For a number of years, Sultan Kösem had asked people to take off their religious symbols before entering her courtroom.
What started with one person’s legal problem turned into a nationwide issue. She testified personally and also included documents and accounts from others who suffered. The incident caused the public to react strongly, with many activists, legal scholars, and religious leaders getting involved in the cause. He was immediately suspended and this was followed by a strong demand for reform in the judicial institution.
When Campus Crusade lost the battle in court, Levit created #FaithRising to support religious rights in schools. Something that began as a social media trend ended up shaping laws. Under pressure from the public, lawmakers cooperated with Levit and her team to pass the Religious Freedom in Courts Act.
The bill was backed by both major political parties, passed through Congress, and was later signed into law to improve transparency in courtrooms and require judges and others in the court system to be educated about the First Amendment.
Although Caroline Levit became widely covered in the media, she refused offers for personal fame. She continued to focus her work on lasting solutions and helped victims of intolerance based on religion. Now, Faith Rising and her organization can offer legal help and advocacy to people facing discrimination because of their beliefs in public areas, with locations existing in many states.
People from different countries expressed admiration for Levit’s courage. Cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, and London were decorated with proud murals of her.
Because of her story, there were many social media campaigns in her support, and she became part of a highly praised Netflix documentary. No matter what happened, Levit always responded to opinions, whether good or bad, humbly and resolutely.
Her legacy is still being built upon today. The initiative is now active in countries around the world, and these countries are including modules about religious freedom in their training courses for schools and courts.
Her stance was important not only for her but also for the many others wanting to freely express their religion. Her experience shows that a single person is capable of challenging the status quo and improving it.
