Media Contact

CONTACT: Anna Nuñez, ACLU of Texas, [email protected], (713) 325-7010

February 5, 2016

HOUSTON – Today, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a brief to Attorney General Ken Paxton in support of Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson’s stance allowing patrol officer vehicles to display crosses featuring a thin blue line.

The following may be attributed to Terri Burke, executive director for the ACLU of Texas:

“The intrusion of government into religion in this way excludes vast swathes of the population who do not share the same religious convictions. Blurring the lines between church and state — particularly the enforcement arm of the state — sends the message that some groups are second-class citizens. Officer morale is important, but law enforcement agencies across the country would do well to implement policies that focus on transparency, accountability and community trust.”