By Anthony Council
Correspondent
I Messenger Media
Faith leaders from across Dallas gathered for a powerful press conference, uniting voices from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to condemn the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Some of the speakers had recently returned from visiting the region, sharing firsthand accounts of the devastation and human suffering they witnessed. The event was led by Mustafa Carroll, the executive director of CAIR-Texas and a member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who underscored the urgency of raising awareness across the country. He stressed that silence was not an option, urging people of all faiths to stay engaged and raise their voices for justice, saying, “We have to keep speaking out and getting the political arms of the nation.”
More than eight speakers participated in the press conference, including Dr. Bilal Piracha, an emergency medicine physician in Coppell, Texas, who had recently returned from Gaza earlier this month. “The situation there is even worse than before,” Dr. Piracha said, describing how people who have not eaten for days, weeks, and in some cases months, are starving for food. He recounted the tragic story of a nurse who went to collect food from an airlifted pallet, only for it to fall on him, crushing his chest and killing him, as desperate people ran over his body just to get to the food.
Even with severe restrictions on travel and entry to Gaza, Dr. Piracha emphasized that there is still much that can be done here in the United States. “We really can do a lot. We need to come together, respecting all religions and races, and unite as one Dallas for Gaza and that will grow into one Texas for Gaza, and so on.”
The press conference ended with a unified call for action, as faith leaders and community members urged Dallas and the nation not to turn away from the suffering in Gaza. Their message was clear: awareness must lead to action, and action must lead to change. From the personal stories of devastation to the moral appeals for justice, the speakers reminded those listening that silence only deepens the crisis.
