Press Releases
CAIR-Houston to Join Peaceful Protest Demanding Senator Ted Cruz’s Resignation Over Attempted Capitol Coup
(HOUSTON, TX, 1/15/2021) – On Saturday, Jan. 16, the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will join the HTX Election Defenders Coalition for a peaceful protest outside Senator Ted Cruz’s office at the Leland Federal Building.
The coalition will demand Sen Cruz respond to calls for his resignation due to his role in spreading disinformation and inciting violence leading to the invasion of our U.S Capitol Building.
WHERE/WHEN: Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 1 p.m. (CST), 1919 Smith Street, Houston, TX 77002
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston President and Chairman of Board of Directors John Floyd, Attorney, jfloyd@cair.com, 713.224.0101, CAIR-Houston Communications and Program Coordinator Ambreen Hernandez, ahernandez@cair.com, 973.495.0976
In a statement, CAIR-Houston President and Chairman of Board of Directors John Floyd, Attorney, said:
“It is unacceptable that Senator Cruz, who is our elected representative in the Senate, would seek to legitimize voices calling for insurrection and white supremacy by colluding with the president to overturn the results of a fair and free election. By his acts, he joined the movement’s intent to control our Congress and install a dictator violently. He violated not only his oath to support the Constitution but his responsibility to his constituents. He must resign.”
“All those involved in inspiring, encouraging, and abetting these terrorists must be held responsible for their actions. Unfortunately, they have been enabled by a large cross-section of extremist politicians, many of whom represent Texans. They have made a mockery of democracy by embracing the fascist rhetoric of a far-right figurehead with a far-right movement behind him. They have suppressed votes while lying about the nature of our electoral system, sullying our elections while opposing their legally legitimate losses. They have proven themselves entirely unfit for office. They must all resign.”
BACKGROUNDER:
On January 6, 2021, a violent mob of extremists motivated by far-right, white-supremacist conspiracies, and inflamed by rhetoric from the outgoing President of the United States, stormed into the Capitol, forcing legislators and their staff to barricade themselves in safe rooms with the protection of armed guards. The events came after Sen Cruz attempted to block the certification of the result of the presidential election by reinforcing the President’s incendiary lies. After Cruz spoke, the angry insurrectionists forced their way inside the Capitol building, carried a Confederate flag through the rotunda, and threatened to kill lawmakers in the seat of democracy in Washington DC.
Organizations around the State of Texas are calling for the resignation of the Texas politicians complicit in the actions on January 6, 2021 (see contact information below):
1. Senator Ted Cruz
2. Attorney General Ken Paxton
3. Representative Jody Arrington
4. Representative Brian Babin
5. Representative Michael C. Burgess
6. Representative John R. Carter
7. Representative Michael Cloud
8. Representative Pat Fallon
9. Representative Louie Gohmert
10. Representative Lance Gooden
11. Representative Ronny Jackson
12. Representative Troy Nehls
13. Representative August Pfluger
14. Representative Pete Sessions
15. Representative Beth Van Duyne
16. Representative Randy Weber
17. Representative Roger Williams
18. Representative Ron Wright
Additionally, we support Representative Cori Bush’s resolution to expel the seditious members of Congress attempting to undermine the legitimacy of our democratic election results.
We believe in the power of democracy and the People’s power to make progress in the United States. Those who have proven that they would prefer to destroy the country rather than hold Trump accountable must permanently surrender their power. Their power is vested in us, and they have shown themselves willing to use it abusively.
In the name of democracy,
ACLU/Indivisible East Dallas Supporters
Action South Texas
Arlington Area Texas Democratic Women
Black Lives Matter Houston
CAIR Houston
Coalition of Labor Union Wo
men (CLUW) GPA
Corpus Christi Indivisible
Dylan Forbis TDP SDEC 11 Committee Member
Energy and Environmental Democrats
Extinction Rebellion Houston
Far Northwest Progressives of Travis County
FIEL Houston
Harris County SD17 Democrats
Houston Youth Climate Strike
Indivisible 121
Indivisible Arlington
Indivisible Austin
Indivisible Fort Worth
Indivisible Grapevine Area
Indivisible Healthcare Fort Worth
Indivisible Katy Huddle
Indivisible TX-24
The John Cornyn Tuesday Protest
Lake Highlands White Rock Democrats
March For Our Lives Houston
National Lawyers Guild – San Antonio Chapter, Inc.
Nueces County Democratic Party
Our Revolution Brazoria/Fort Bend County
Our Revolution Harris County
Our Revolution Texas
Pantsuit Republic Texas
Pearland Youth Movement
Progressive Women of Arlington, TX
Public Citizen
Rideshare2Vote, LLC
Say Her Name HTX
SD15 Democrats
Secular Democrats of Texas
Senate District 2 Democrats
Showing Up for Racial Justice – Dallas/Fort Worth
Tarrant Together
Texas Coalition Of Blk Democrats Harris County Chapter
Texas Environmental Democrats
The Funky East Dallas Democrats (The FEDDs)
United Fort Worth
Wimberly Indivisible
Women of Dallas United For Action (WDUA)
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston President and Chairman of Board of Directors John Floyd, Attorney, jfloyd@cair.com, 713.224.0101, CAIR-Houston Communications and Program Coordinator Ambreen Hernandez, ahernandez@cair.com, 973.495.0976
