Because Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated the Council on American Islamic Relations as a foreign terrorism organization, a Muslim youth sports league has been denied use of a public school facility. Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, which lies in the heart…
Muslim group sues DeSantis over his executive order
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the U.S. and state constitutions with an executive order labeling the Council on American-Islamic Relations a terrorist organization, the Muslim civil rights group says in a new federal lawsuit. The litigation claims DeSantis’ Dec. 8…
DeSantis follows Abbott’s lead in labeling Muslim groups terrorists
Following Texas’ lead, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations.” “Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including…
Abbott’s reelection plan would ‘eliminate public education,’ Johnson warns
A reelection campaign pledge by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is a further attempt to “eliminate public education,” according to Charles Foster Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children. In announcing his unusual bid for a fourth term as governor…
Texas governor seeks to ban Muslim organizations
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations are “foreign terrorist organizations” and are banned from owning property in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott declared in a Nov. 18 proclamation. “The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals…
When will Texas Republicans value the lives of all children?
Anyone with a soul is devastated when children die under tragic circumstances. It doesn’t matter how those children die — the morally and spiritually virtuous among us want to ensure whatever can be done to prevent the tragic loss of…
Here’s why authoritarians go after historians and journalists
“Those that don’t know any history think everything is an overreaction right now. Those that do know history think everything is an underreaction right now.” These were the words posted recently on Threads by medical physicist and musician Benito Thompson. To which…
Vetoing our future
More than 3.8 million Texas kids qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program during the school year. Government programs support their nutrition because we know hungry children do not learn as well as other children. They don’t grow as…
Two lawsuits target Texas Ten Commandments law
Two Texas Baptists — including a BNG staff member — are among 16 multifaith and nonreligious Texas families who filed suit in federal court today to oppose the state’s new Ten Commandments law. This is the second lawsuit filed against the…
Abbott signs Texas Ten Commandments bill, setting up court fight
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms beginning Sept. 1 despite the threat of litigation from civil liberties groups. Abbott’s office said the governor signed the measure June 21 along with more…
Texas Gov. Abbott is spreading a conspiracy theory that attacks Muslims
North Texas is a religiously diverse place. Not only are there numerous Protestant megachurches, there also are Mainline Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and more. Many, like myself, consider the religious diversity one of the draws of the area….
Texas on the brink of finalizing a school voucher bill
After years of opposition from rural Republicans and urban Democrats, the Texas Legislature passed a school voucher bill April 17. Texas now joins at least 15 other states with some form of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private education that critics say…