LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has proclaimed April 13 Nebraska Religious Liberty Day in what he says is a call to action to publicly exercise religious beliefs without fear of legal repercussions.

Rickets signed the proclamation Monday while speaking to a crowd of about 250 people gathered at the Capitol for a service titled “Religious Liberty in the Public Square.”

Leaders from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said people of faith have rare moral, political and charitable roles in the state, and urged the crowd to continue speaking out.

Ricketts says the proclamation is not in response to any particular legislation and does not believe Nebraska needs new religious freedom laws at this time.