00:00I 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.
00:14No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion, like I recently stated on social media.
00:22And we don't have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.
00:26We're way beyond thinking or expecting or assuming for, you know, the person sitting next to you to have the exact same beliefs.
00:36We're beyond that. That's ridiculous.
00:39But that shouldn't make one person feel less safe than anyone in any room.
00:47Music has taken me around the globe.
00:49I have seen how people, no matter their language, culture, or religion, come alive when they hear a song that touches their soul.
00:59Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live, and what we believe.
01:10But today, faith is under attack in way too many places.
01:14In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed.
01:23Churches have been burned.
01:26Families have been torn apart.
01:28And entire communities live in fear constantly simply because of how they pray.
01:35Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries across the world.
01:44And it demands urgent action.
01:48And I want to be clear.
01:51Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides.
01:57Look at those nails. Those nails.
02:00And one more time in the front.
02:02Nikki on the right.
02:03Nikki right in front of you, Nikki.
02:04Nikki, eyes right here.
02:06Nikki, straight ahead, please.
02:07Nikki, look at me.
02:08I like looking crazy, obviously.
02:10I like having fun.
02:11I like playing dressed up.
02:12I don't like to do the norm, but I like to be comfortable.
02:15It is about uniting humanity.
02:19Oh, my Lord.
02:21Nikki, Nikki, can you come a little closer to us?
02:24Nikki, one second.
02:26Look up just a little, Nikki.
02:28Let's see those eyes.
02:29Come on.
02:30Come on.
02:31Come on.
02:31Come on.
02:32Come on.
02:32Come on.
02:33Come on.
02:34Come on.
02:35Come on.
02:39Nikki.
02:39Nikki.
02:43Nikki.
02:44Hey, Nikki, show us a clean floor.
02:46I am inspired by their work to build interfaith ties, to see the humanity across the lines which
02:53might divide us and to fight for security and liberty for all those who pray.
03:02I look forward to our discussion today, and I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity
03:08for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship,
03:13and to live in peace.
03:15Nikki.
03:37Oh, my God.
03:37Oh, my God.
03:38Oh, my God.
03:39Oh, my God.
03:39I love you so very much.
03:45you have been the ultimate light in my life and career for so long I appreciate
03:57you and I want to make it very clear once again that this isn't about taking
04:04sides this is about standing up in the face of injustice it's about what I've
04:10always stood for my entire career and I will continue to stand for that for the
04:15rest of my life I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their
04:24beliefs
04:33they're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria and they have other
04:39countries very bad also you know that part of the world very bad they're killing
04:44the Christians and killing them in very large numbers we're not going to allow
04:48that to happen
04:55there is no genocide in northern Nigeria what's going on in northern part of
05:01Nigeria has nothing to do with the kind of atrocities we see in Sudan or in some
05:09part of Eastern DRC I think the complexity of the situation in in northern
05:13Nigeria should you know push us think twice before you know declaring such such or
05:23making such statements the first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims not Christians
05:39the last one God knows that they have some people who've been doing as one of us
05:42up to the streets with him because it's been alguma part of the world
05:44that would be significant to that they have to be handling the Marines
05:46we can't tell you how we have the influence of that is
05:49the strategy of the people who want to feel about it
05:51as a people who want to feel for you
05:52it's nothing to be able to be with it
05:54with the people who want to feel about it
05:55I didn't know about you
05:58I couldn't know about you
06:00So as a person who wants to feel the next
06:32You
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