Contact: Media Relations, California Civil Rights Foundation, 510-225-4056

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 16, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Saturday, October 20th at 1:00 P.M. (PDT), on the eve of the most crucial presidential election since 1860, the California Civil Rights Foundation will hold its third Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally in San Francisco. The HHS Mandate forces all employers -- even religious institutions such as Roman Catholic hospitals and universities -- to offer contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs through their health plans, contrary to their religious beliefs and doctrines. This rally will be one of over 140 rallies held across the country in support of Religious Freedom and is expected to be the largest of the three Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies in San Francisco.

Event Details

What: Stand Up Rally for Religious Freedom

When: Saturday, October 20th, 2012 @ 1:00 P.M. (PDT)

Where: San Francisco's U.S. Federal Building, 90 Seventh St., San Francisco, CA

Who: Citizens opposed to President Obama's HHS Mandate

Speakers: View the event flier with list of speakers here.

"I support the Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally in San Francisco. We Americans can be rightly proud of the fact that the right to the free and unfettered exercise of religion is a primary principle in the vision and founding of our country. It defines us as a people, and has uniquely contributed to making this nation great. I urge all citizens, of all faiths and of no faith, to unite in advocating for and defending this, our 'first and most cherished freedom'" states San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone.

Many religious organizations are faced with violating their consciences or facing stiff penalties. Religious leaders are taking a stand. Father Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life and the San Francisco Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally special guest has taken such a stand. Father Pavone recently announced: "I want to make it clear to you today that we will disobey this mandate. Neither Priests for Life as an organization, nor any one of our administrative team or Board of Directors, nor I personally, consent to provide, pay for, advocate, counsel, refer, or in any way tolerate or cooperate with any process, plan, exchange of money or services, or any other activity that would enable a person to engage in the use of abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, or sterilization."

Walter B. Hoye II, organizer of the Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally in San Francisco and founder of the California Civil Rights Foundation, feels the necessity to stand up for Religious Freedom before this precious right is lost. "In his famous 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. boldly said: 'The goal of America is freedom.' One of the biggest issues being decided in November isn't jobs, the economy or foreign policy; it's the grave and mortal threat to our religious freedom posed by the HHS Mandate. Albert Einstein was right when he said: 'The world has become a dangerous place to live in, not because of some evil men, but because of the many that do not do anything about it,'" said Hoye.

For more information on the Nationwide Rally effort, including media contacts for the national leadership team, click here.

The California Civil Rights Foundation is a 501(c)(4) organization. For more information or press inquiries, please contact Media Relations at: 510.225.4056 or click here to visit our website.