Faith in Texas and clergy leaders gathered outside John Cornyn’s office in Dallas on Wednesday, June 1st, 2022, to pray and call for changes to gun control legislation. Christians, Jews, and Muslims united to worship and demonstrate solidarity for those impacted by gun violence. Faith leaders called for the following demands: 1. Ban Assault Weapons and Ghost Guns. 2. Pass Universal Background Checks. 3. Fund Peace via Community Violence Intervention Strategies. 4. Scale National Culturally Responsive Mental Health Infrastructure. 3 Bills that speak to the demands: Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350) – This bill would establish offices at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and FBI to focus on monitoring, investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic terrorism. This would prevent domestic hate crime incidents, like the tragic mass shooting in Buffalo which left 10 black individuals dead at a local supermarket. Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8) and Enhanced Background Checks Act (H.R. 1446) – H.R. 8 would require background checks for all gun sales and H.R. 1446 would extend the initial background check review period from 3 days to 10 days. More than 90% of Americans support these essential pieces of legislation. Break the Cycle of Violence Act – This bill would invest $6.5 billion in community violence intervention and strategic workforce programs that are proven to save lives. Please reach out to your local legislator to urge passing gun violence prevention legislation. Faith Rally Video
Freedom Fridays @ Dallas County Jail
Join Faith in Texas on the first three Fridays in the month at the Dallas County Jail with our bail fund team. High incarceration rates may have negative consequences on communities due to the loss of persons of working age, greater exposure to infectious illnesses, and the diversion of public resources from health and social services to the criminal justice system. Amid deaths and inspections, the Dallas County Jail has documented staffing shortages of crisis proportions. For more information please contact: Bail Fund Organizer, Mark Walters Jr. @ mwalters@faithintx.org Digital Organizer, Mobeen Mian @mmian@faithintx.org
Faith in Texas – 2022 Capital Campaign
Faith in Texas – 2022 Capital Campaign Faith in Texas is a nonpartisan, multi-racial, multi-faith grassroots movement of people united in values work- ing together to achieve economic, racial, and social justice for all people. Faith in Texas envisions a world in which economic, racial, and social equity enable everyone to live in complete liberation to pursue our divine purpose and participate fully in the systems and processes that govern our lives. We affirm and root our work in these five universal truths: (1) All humans have inherent worth and deserve to be treated with dignity, care, and respect. (2) The most directly impacted people should be the center and driving force of solutions (3) Organizing should build power that is shared by all (4) Freedom is an inalienable right (5) God is at work to restore justice in our society. We are organizing the power of faith communities to confront the root causes of pain and suffering in our most directly impacted communities across Texas. Our current campaign addresses both short term and immediate community needs as well as long term systemic change. Immediate Goals Push Dallas County to pass a resolution that requires criminal justice stakeholders to build a decarceration plan for the Dallas County Jail. Prevent increases in homelessness and displacement while combatting “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBYism) across North Texas. Long Term Goals Divest/Invest Secure 10% of funds given to Dallas through the American Rescue Plan and divert it to re-entry services such as transitional housing, transitional employment, mental health services, etc. Reduce 25% of Dallas County jail population, which will allow the County to divest from mass incarceration and invest in the community needs of our neighbors who we bail out of jail every month such as housing and jobs. Expansion Creating a model of identifying deep pains and burdens across the state of Texas start ing with listening campaigns and moving into community organizing in faith communi ties. Expanding overall electorate throughout Dallas, Collin, Denton, Smith, Rockwall and Tarrant counties. Including voter registration at key events as well as partnering with Dallas Votes to work on general election strategies. Ongoing Efforts Leadership Development FiTX continues to invest in leadership development and faith formation. We are contin uously seeking out directly impacted individuals to develop into a new generation of leaders and decision makers to establish, protect, and promote community-centered issues, policies and systems.
