A group of Tarrant County civic organizations aims to educate voters about the influence of religious nationalism in state and local government with a panel discussion<\/a> and day of action Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n The League of Women Voters of Tarrant County planned the event as a way to educate neighbors about what they see as an attack on democracy, president Janet Mattern told the Fort Worth Report.\u00a0<\/p>\n The league is concerned about \u201cthe gutting of voting rights,\u201d the elimination<\/a> of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and other local government policy changes they believe are often traced to a common factor, Mattern said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat movement is the Christian nationalist movement, and they have been working towards undermining our democracy,\u201d Mattern said. \u201cIn the League of Women Voters, we have as part of our mission to defend democracy \u2026 and so we thought it was very necessary to educate ourselves and to educate the community about what Christian nationalism is.\u201d<\/p>\n Christian nationalism is the belief that the United States is a country defined by Christianity, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit<\/a> that seeks to protect First Amendment rights such as religious liberty. According to the forum, Christian nationalists generally believe the government should advocate for Christian values and pass laws reflecting those values and that the separation of church and state should not be maintained.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you go<\/p>\n What: Faith, Freedom, and Democracy \u2014 Panel Discussion and Day of Action<\/p>\n When: 10 a.m. Aug. 8<\/p>\n Where: Broadway Baptist Church, 305 W. Broadway Ave. in Fort Worth<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Register: https:\/\/www.mobilize.us\/lwv\/event\/970249\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n The League of Women Voters is a national grassroots network whose members believe the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue and work to empower voters, according to its website.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the group\u2019s annual convention in June that Mattern attended, she said members approved a measure reaffirming that the league stands for \u201cthe separation of church and state and religious freedom founded upon individual conscience, free of social or political influence by any state or religious body.\u201d<\/p>\n The discussion on Christian nationalism isn\u2019t about political parties or candidates, Mattern said, emphasizing that it will follow the league\u2019s nonpartisan standard.\u00a0<\/p>\n Billed as a discussion on \u201cfaith, freedom and democracy,\u201d the panel features faith leaders, election experts and free speech advocates, according to a promotional flyer:\u00a0<\/p>\n Perry Crenshaw, spiritual director for the NAACP\u2019s Arlington chapter.\u00a0 In addition to the League of Women Voters, the event is hosted by the NAACP\u2019s Fort Worth and Arlington chapters, March to the Polls, Faith and Justice Coalition of Tarrant County, Pastors for Texas Children, Texans Defending Democracy and other civic groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n After the discussion, attendees can hear from the host groups about how to become civically engaged around Christian nationalism.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nChris and Mendi Tackett, a Fort Worth couple who run the website See it. Name it. Fight it.<\/a> aimed at helping people understand Christian nationalism.
\nLaney Hawes, co-director of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, which advocates against book bans in Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n