As Juneteenth approaches, I think about how I learned nothing of it as a child growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana. It wasn’t until I moved to Texas to attend the University of Texas at Arlington that I was introduced to the significance of the day that for many African Americans represents freedom. Though that’s not exactly true in Texas. … Current conditions for African Americans in this country are hard reminders of the frustration, hurt, and pain that we still feel, and the holiday underscores for me that even in 2020 — in spite of the advances that have taken place — there are still enormous gaps and inequalities. We still have so much work to do. That’s why I’m proud to tell you about Power in Action: Mobilizing to Advance Black Communities, an intergenerational new organization created to address issues around education, economic development, criminal justice, health care/mental health and more. … I must acknowledge here that there are many groups already doing great work. I think of Faith in Texas; Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation; Lone Star Justice Alliance; Big Thought; and Young Leaders Strong City. Our intent with Power in Action is not to minimize that work or suggest that we have the sole answer. It is merely another approach to a multifaceted solution that requires a variety of experiences and perspectives. … I am honored that what started as a call to action is gaining traction due to the involvement of some amazing community partners who desire to move the needle on changing the landscape for African Americans. We recognize the sense of urgency that exists, and we cannot wait years to get freedom from the barriers and racism that plague our community. The time is now. Excerpted from Dallas Morning News. Read the full article here.
Faith in Texas Responds to Protests in Support of Black Lives
For Immediate Release As people of faith, we believe that peace can only be realized when the human dignity of every person is fully upheld and honored. For far too long, too many in our communities have been made to feel that their cries are falling on deaf ears. If we have ears to hear them, the uplifted voices, broken-out windows, and burnt buildings are merely tangible expressions of the palpable pain reverberating through our communities. It is critical in this moment that we listen to these cries of agony and outrage –– deep pain borne throughout generations –– from Black people and all those oppressed by the demonic system of white supremacy. We can no longer accept neutrality, passivity, or ambiguity. We must serve our community in this moment by heeding the call and making it irrefutably clear that we stand together. Peace can only be found when our community is made whole and all people are treated as the sacred beings we are. Under no circumstance does the violation of property equate to violations of human dignity and life. It is not our place or desire to dictate how people express their grief and pain but it is our duty to do our part to keep people out of cages. To this end, Faith in Texas is working to bail out activists jailed during recent protests in support of Black lives. We will not find peace by locking our brothers and sisters in cages that further dehumanize them and devalue their lives, especially in jails overrun with a deadly virus. Peace is inextricably linked to dignity and equity. If we truly seek peace for our nation, we must listen deeply to the cries of the oppressed, and tap into our prophetic imaginations to unleash a new system of justice – justice that ensures the hungry are fed, the vulnerable are cared for, that the sick are healed. Only when every person in our community is valued will we realize true peace. No matter our faith or religious creed, we are all believers in humanity. We are people of diverse races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and professions. We are family, friends, neighbors, and community. We must all use our voice, our vote, our power, and our privilege to create a new system that is truly good news to the poor, sight for the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” –– Luke 4:18-19
Tiara Cooper on Fox4 News: Officials release 1,000 inmates to ease crowding, slow spread of COVID-19 at Dallas County jail
Jails across the country are seeing more and more inmates and workers infected. In Dallas County, there is an effort to control the spread by releasing some inmates. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed 42 positive cases of COVID-19 in inmates. That’s 30 more than were reported this past week. … Tiara Cooper, formerly incarcerated at Lew Sterrett, now advocates for inmates with Live Free Faith in Texas. She says they would still like to see more inmates released to allow for more distancing inside the jail. She also said there’s concern for newly released inmates and the communities they return to. She worries some inmates may have been exposed to the virus and of those released, she says many will end up homeless or return to communities with an already high number of COVID-19 cases. “My hope for the people that are being released is that they are tested as soon as possible and that they have those direct services that are needed and necessary in this hour,” Cooper said. Excerpted from Fox4 News. Read the full story here.
