(Houston, TX, 4/6/21) – Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 7, the Houston and DFW chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and Faith in Texas along with faith leaders across the State of Texas will be joining in a virtual press conference in support of the Texas George Floyd Act.

More than 100 faith leaders and organizations from diverse faiths and regions of our state have signed on in support of the Texas George Floyd Act (HB 88) and all of its components. 

WHEN: Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 10:30 am

WHERE: FB Live at https://www.facebook.com/cair.tx.houston/live/

COALITION: The George Floyd Act is supported by a growing statewide coalition of more than 70 groups. More information about the coalition can be found at its website at txgeorgefloydact.com

“Re-imagining safety in Texas requires boldness and a prophetic vision that sees this state as a place where all people feel safe. As an organization that walks with various individuals and communities from all faith backgrounds, we believe that every human being is born with inherent worth. Every human being should be treated with dignity even if they have an encounter with the police. The George Floyd Act gets us closer to addressing the issues that surround over-incarceration of people, particularly for non-jailable offenses. The passing of this legislation gets us closer to that prophetic vision.” – Rev. L. Robin Murray, Lead Organizer, Faith in Texas

“The George Floyd Act is long overdue for Texas and we are calling our faith leaders to join one of our State’s most important calls to action of our time by standing for justice. Now is the time for our Texas legislature to pass meaningful, common-sense laws that will hold law enforcement accountable and make our communities and their families safer. Racial profiling and brutal abuses by police are a reality that disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, people of color and low-income people in the state of Texas and across our nation. To work on building unity and healing, we must begin by honoring George Floyd’s memory by working in solidarity across all faiths by supporting true reform that delivers that.” Ambreen Hernandez, Director of Operations, CAIR-Houston 

“Texas Impact supports the George Floyd Act because the power of the State should be used to strengthen minority communities and democratic institutions—not to protect white privilege. Our faith traditions teach that all people should have equal access, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law because all people are created in God’s image.” Bee Moorhead, Executive Director, Texas Impact

TEXT OF LETTER:

The people of Texas need to know that many faith leaders and theologians from diverse religious traditions support The George Floyd Act. If you are an ordained member of the clergy, professional religious educator, theologian or staff member at a religious institution, please lend your name and support for The George Floyd Act and encourage your fellow faith leaders to do the same by sharing this link.  

We, the undersigned clergy and religious leaders from across Texas, draw upon our personal faith and moral convictions to support the Texas George Floyd Act (H.B. No. 88).

We are leaders of various Texas faith communities who have walked with thousands of people through life’s glory, tragedy, and mistakes. Some of the people with whom we have ministered have been harassed or threatened by police; others have had family members killed during an interaction with police. We have mourned senseless deaths at the hands of law enforcement. We have stood in solidarity, hearts to hearts, with families affected by these losses.

George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police awakened many of us the simple fact that Black men and women have justified reasons to live in fear for their lives because of the way policing works in America and Texas. Spouses are afraid for their husbands. Black parents are afraid for their sons and daughters. Black grandparents are afraid for their grandsons.

As people of faith, we yearn for peace. But peace demands righteousness and justice.  We stand united in the belief that this moment, and George Floyd’s death, demands meaningful police reform. In this critical moment, we are called to address our policing culture at the very roots, not only for the Black community, or even the community as a whole but for police officers as well.

The Texas George Floyd Act is a strong bill and a good first step towards addressing the injustice that George Floyd experienced at the hands of police and that many Texans experience every day. It is about correcting things that we know are wrong. It is about safety for all people. It is about peace, justice, strong communities and safe neighborhoods.

Our belief in the value and protection of all people are grounded in our religious principles.  We believe that this means embracing the Texas George Floyd Act.

Supporting Individuals and Local Organizations

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CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

Faith in Texas is a multi-faith, multi-racial grassroots organization that unites people and communities of faith to address the systemic racial injustices that plague our communities. One of the common tenets that threads through the diversity of our faith traditions is being accountable for affirming and protecting the inherent dignity held by all people. In part, it is the failure of that same tenet in our systems, anchored in racial prejudices, that allowed the lives of George Floyd and countless other Texans to be devastated and ultimately stolen. We need interventions across the state that address current pathways for law enforcement officers to be free of accountability when they cause harm. The George Floyd Act seeks to begin that long march towards valuing and protecting all people.  

Texas Impact is a non profit that exists to put faith into action. They equip faith leaders and their congregations with information and opportunities, and outreach tools to educate their communities and engage with lawmakers on pressing public policy issues.

CONTACTS: 

Ambreen Hernandez, CAIR-Houston, 973-495-0976

Rev. Robin Murray, Faith in Texas, 

Bee Moorehead, Texas Impact, 512-472-3903