Statement of Support by the Texas Impact Board of Directors

April 12, 2007

The Board of Directors of Texas Impact, a multi-faith statewide
advocacy organization, would like to express our appreciation and
support to you for your efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue and
cooperation as evidenced by your invitation to Imam Dr. Yusuf
Kavakci to open the April 4, 2007 session of the Texas State
Senate with prayer as part of the 3rd Texas Muslims Legislative
Day.

We commend you for this invitation and your subsequent remarks
on the Senate floor following Iman Kavakci’s prayer. We believe it
is imperative in the atmosphere of today’s world that the principles
of religious liberty guaranteed in the First Amendment have
a prominent forum. Our state is a microcosm of the religious
diversity found in our United States, and it is incumbent upon all of
our legislative bodies to uphold the freedom of all our citizens to
express their faith.

We celebrate the diversity of faiths and the people of our state
and encourage all people of good will to engage in interfaith
conversation and cooperation.

We thank you and applaud you, Senator Shapiro, for your efforts.