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I've been a McKinney resident for 20 years and
have

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never been more ashamed at the behavior of
some of

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these residents than what I see here tonight.

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The MIA is simply asking for what any church,
synagogue,

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or temple in the city already has the right to

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build a place of worship in compliance with
our zoning

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laws and the Constitution of the United
States.

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What we are seeing here is something else.

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We're seeing neighbors being told that their
religion is incompatible

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with American values, despite the
constitutional right to freedom of

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religion.

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We are seeing Islamophobic comments on social
media.

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We are seeing a congressman using hate to con
his

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voters into being afraid of their neighbors.

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This is about making people feel like they
don't belong.

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We've seen this playbook before.

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They came for transgender people using fear to
justify stripping

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them of their rights.

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They came for our public schools using fear to
ban

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books and control what our children learn.

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Now they are coming for our Muslim neighbors
spreading lies

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and fear.

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This is a deliberate strategy.

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They use hate to divide us, to make us point

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fingers at each other while they're busy
stealing from working

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families and enriching their billionaire
donors.

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They want us fighting over culture wars so we
don't

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notice the real theft happening right in front
of us.

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The First Amendment is not a suggestion, it is
a

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guarantee.

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We do not get to pick and choose which
religions

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we protect.

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When we allow our mosque to be blocked because
of

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fear and prejudice, we are not protecting our
community.

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We are undermining the very foundation of our
democracy.

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We are a nation of immigrants and diversity,
which was

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one of the best things about America.

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The melting pot is not a weakness, it is our

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greatest strength.

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A McKinney that welcomes a mosque is a
McKinney that

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is safer for everyone because it sends a
message that

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people of all backgrounds are valued and
protected.

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I ask you to reject the fear, reject the
division,

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reject the hatred, approve the site plan.

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Let our Muslim neighbors know that they are
welcome here,

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that they belong here, and that McKinney and
that McKinney

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will always stand for the principle that
people of all

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faiths deserve a place to worship, to gather,
and to

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be a part of our community.

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Thank you

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Next speaker is Marcus Moyd.

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Next is