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The Rev. Ed Young, the senior pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church,

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urged his congregation on Sunday to vote out local elected officials he blamed for the rise in homicides in Harris County,

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 sparking an online firestorm that included calls to strip the church of its tax-exempt status.

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Young's comments came in the first few minutes of his sermon, during which he condemned "left-wing progressives"

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 without naming any — for their approach to crime and public safety in Houston.

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Homicides have increased in recent years, with similar increases reported in other major cities since the COVID-19 pandemic.

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"If Houston and Harris County are to survive, we must remove those jerks from office."

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"They are not doing the job that we have assigned to them," Young said, pausing for a 30-second ovation.

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Young's remarks, which were live-streamed on Second Baptist's YouTube channel, drew praise from Republicans including U.S. 

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 Ted Cruz, who called the message "powerful," and Alexandra del Moral Mealer, who called the message "powerful."