Texas Impact organized a rally at the Texas state Capitol July 19 to protest the proposed voter suppression legislation. Over 400 people of faith gathered on the south side of the Capitol and listened to a dozen inspirational speakers. The speakers, representing Christians of many denominations, Jews and Muslims, all professed convictions about the importance of protecting the right to vote. 

George Mason, pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, closed the event. He expressed frustration that out of all the more pressing issues we should be advocating for—like health care and Medicaid expansion, or public education—we have to spend our time and efforts protecting the basic right to vote. "Equal access to voting for every eligible voting Texan is the bedrock of democracy in our state. It is the floor of fairness that promotes unity in diversity in our political life together," he said. 

Linda Jann Lewis of the NAACP of Texas said, “HB3 and SB1 are both frightening bills, clearly designed to allow 40% of the electorate to control the state and marginalize Black and Brown people as well as the disabled. This is not your garden variety voter suppression; it is the kind of voter suppression that would make the legislatures that adopted the poll tax or prohibited Blacks from voting in the democratic primary proud. It is masterful and pervasive.”

If you would like to sign a statement urging the Texas Legislature to protect voting rights, click here. To read more about Monday's event, see Texas Impact's press release here.