The Rev. Ed Young, senior pastor of Houston’s Second Baptist Church, on Sunday urged his congregation to vote out local elected officials who he blamed for the rise in homicides in Harris County, setting off an online firestorm that included calls to strip the church of its tax-exempt status.
Young’s remarks came in the opening minutes of his sermon, as he condemned “left-wing progressives” — without mentioning any by name — for their approach to crime and public safety in Houston. Homicides have risen in recent years, with other major cities reporting similar increases since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If Houston and Harris County is to survive, we had better throw those bums out of office. They are not doing the job that we have called them to [do],” Young said, pausing for an ovation that lasted about 30 seconds.
Young’s comments, livestreamed on Second Baptist’s YouTube channel, drew praise from Republicans including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who called the message “powerful,” and Alexandra del Moral Mealer, the GOP nominee for Harris County judge. Mealer’s race against incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo is among the highest profile contests in Texas this year, and public safety has played a central role in the campaign thus far.
Others slammed Young’s remarks as a breach of federal…
