On August 5, “Family, Faith and Freedom” Celebration Will Unite Community Around Inclusivity and Diversity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kirsten Bokenkamp, ACLU of Texas (713) 942-8146 x 109 or (832) 691-7013; [email protected]
Sandhya Bathija, Americans United (202) 466-3234 or (330) 327-3721; [email protected]
In a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and unity, the ACLU of Texas and Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) welcome the Rev. William Lawson and the Rev. Barry Lynn as these two leaders join us for an evening call to action for the public good, while recognizing the vital importance of upholding the separation of church and state.
The event called “Family, Faith and Freedom” will be held Friday evening August 5 and will be open to the public. Details on the venue and time are forthcoming.
Additional speakers will include a wide range of religious and non-religious leaders from the Houston community. It will take place the evening before “The Response,” a Christian event to be held at Reliant Stadium. The ACLU of Texas has requested that Gov. Rick Perry and other public officials disclose the amount of taxpayer dollars and other state or local government resources used to promote the prayer event, “The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis,” set for August 6.
“Gov. Perry’s decision to sponsor a ‘Christians-only’ prayer rally is bad enough. That he turned to an array of intolerant religious extremists to put it on for him is even worse,” said Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “This event unites us in our conviction that government should have no favorite theology and that it must always strive to ensure that all citizens – Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and others – are full and equal partners in the public square.”
“Americans of many faiths, and of no faiths, love their country and want to see it prosper,” said Terri Burke, Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas. “Government promotion of an exclusive Christian event implies that our government views certain types of people as more caring about the well-being of our country than others, and also implies that our government views Christianity as the only way to approach the challenges that our society faces. We don’t see it that way, and thought somebody ought to host an event that welcomes all faiths and traditions.”
Media Alert: Press Conference August 5 at 11 A.M.
Family, Faith and Freedom organizers will hold a press conference prior to the Family, Faith and Freedom event. The press conference will take place at 11 a.m., August 5, at the Crowne Plaza – Reliant Stadium, 8686 Kirby Drive. Speakers will include: Terri Burke, ACLU of Texas; Barry Lynn, Americans United; Professor William Martin, Rice University; Mustafaa Carroll, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Houston.
