This week, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 celebrated its 61st birthday. At events in Denton and Dallas, Texas Impact and hundreds of Texans of faith observed the moment by recommitting to defending voting rights for all Texans and all Americans. Democracy Forward’s Skye Perryman and RAC director Rabbi Jonah Pesner reminded attendees that the struggle for true equal rights in the US is an “old fight” and each generation must renew our collective commitment to preserving and advancing progress toward justice.
The North Texas events were the first two installments of Ready Set Go, a series of events Texas Impact is hosting in partnership with local faith communities and friends to prepare Texans for the midterm elections and the upcoming legislative session. The program featured panel discussions with state public policy experts; workshops on key state legislative issues; and inspiring conversations with local election workers about how and why they serve their communities.
Watch videos from Ready Set Go, download resources, and sign up for action teams for the legislative session on Texas Impact’s website—and if you are in San Antonio or Houston, register for the upcoming Ready Set Go events in those cities!
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One of the hot topics we covered at Ready Set Go is the unfolding catastrophic impacts of P.L. 119-21, AKA HR 1, AKA “the One Big Bill Act” (we refuse to say it’s “beautiful”) that Congress passed and the president signed into law 13 months ago. In the short time since HR1 passed, millions of Americans have lost food assistance and health insurance; clean energy projects have withered; and immigration enforcement has ballooned.
That’s why Texas Impact is co-leading Covenant for Our Future, a national multi-faith campaign calling for repeal of HR1, restoration of funding for core programs, and recommitment to our nation’s decades-old moral policy framework. During the August congressional recess, it’s especially important for Texans to let their members of Congress know that HR1 is hurting Texas communities. If you’d like to participate in a congressional meeting on HR1, please reach out to helen@texasimpact.org and we’ll get you plugged in!
While it may feel dispiriting that we have to fight old fights again, it’s also an opportunity to reaffirm what we believe: that we are called to love each other. And it’s exciting that faith leaders—in Texas and around the country—are stepping up. This week’s article in Sojourners is the latest media coverage of the growing voice of American clergy and other faith leaders who are speaking up and speaking out. |
