Speaking Truth to Power: Rev. Jacquie Fernández’s Full Speech to the Lenexa City Council
Delivered on August 5, 2025 | Lenexa City Hall
On August 5, 2025, a packed Lenexa City Council chamber witnessed an impassioned response to two unsettling events: an ICE raid on local restaurants that left immigrant families in crisis—and a racially motivated complaint that questioned Councilwoman Melanie Arroyo’s citizenship.
Rooted in Unity consciousness and speaking truth to power with love, Rev. Jacquie delivered the following message to the Lenexa City Council—an appeal to our mayor and councilmembers to act with courage, compassion, and accountability. Her words, deeply grounded in spiritual conviction and unwavering love, were later featured in a Fox 4 News segment.
Rev. Jacquie appeared in solidarity with the KS Latino Community Network who offered this press release.
We share her full, unedited remarks below.
Good evening. My name is Rev. Jacquie Fernández, and I serve as the senior minister at the Unity church here in Lenexa, and I am a proud resident of Lenexa. On my street, just east of Sar-Ko-Par Park you will find Latinos, east Indians, Africans, and Black Americans, Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Hindus- doctors, pharmacists, clergy, teachers, and blue collar workers, the backbone of our city.
I stand before you tonight not only in outrage, but in deep love—for this city, for its people, and for the values we profess to hold. What happened recently—the targeting of Councilwoman Arroyo with a baseless, xenophobic complaint followed by a request to prove her citizenship—is more than a misstep. It’s a moral crisis.
I speak to you as someone who believes in the spiritual and civic principle that we belong to one another. When one of us is humiliated, disrespected, and profiled because of her heritage, it diminishes us all.
Councilwoman Arroyo is a public servant, elected by her neighbors. She is not only deserving of dignity, she is due the same respect and protection as any other elected official in this chamber.
Tonight I come to appeal to your highest selves, your strengths, and your roles as stewards of this community.
- Mayor Sayers, with your background in environmental advocacy, you are now entrusted with guiding Lenexa toward a future of health, equity, and quality of life. This moment calls for courageous leadership that cultivates trust—not fear.
- Councilwoman Eiterich, your advocacy for health and disability rights speaks to your care for the most vulnerable and the most marginalized among us. You know what it means to speak up when others are silenced, discriminated against, and worse.
- Councilman Handley, your leadership in organizational culture gives you the tools to help reshape the internal climate of our city departments—so no one else is ever targeted in this way again.
- Councilman Nicks, you love history. I ask you to stand on the right side of it. Let Lenexa be known as a city that said, “No more,” not “Look the other way” when our residents and civil servants are harassed. Let your voice be a voice for unity, for equality, and for fair treatment of our residents.
- Councilman Charlton, as an architect, you know that every choice—every line—impacts the integrity of the structure. You have the opportunity to help design a Lenexa that is safe, inclusive, and built to last.
- Councilwoman Williamson, your work in bankruptcy law reminds us that not all debt is financial. Right now, we are risking moral bankruptcy. I know you understand the cost of that kind of debt.
- Councilman Denny, you’ve been shaping Lenexa’s vision for decades through your civil service and in your career. What kind of legacy do you leave if you allow fear and profiling to take root now?
- And Councilman Herron, you’ve championed democracy, optimism, and coexistence. This is your moment to make those values real—not just aspirational.
We are not asking for political theater. We are asking for action.
Our specific request is this:
We urge the council to adopt a formal resolution stating that Lenexa will not engage in or support discriminatory profiling or misuse of law enforcement resources based on race, ethnicity, or national origin—and that elected officials, like Councilwoman Arroyo, are to be treated with the full dignity of their office. I would like to push back at the city’s legal team a bit after they have insisted the Chief of Police acted appropriately. If there is a complaint about the eligibility of any sitting council member, then the investigation should be into the vetting process and the eligibility of ALL sitting council members should be called into question. Instead, a baseless accusation was lodged against Councilwoman Arroyo and she alone was investigated, this is the definition of racial profiling.
Let that resolution include a commitment to reviewing police protocols for how complaints are vetted and followed, particularly those that could undermine public trust and democratic processes.Lenexa can still be a model—a city where different beliefs and backgrounds don’t divide us but deepen our strength.
Let’s build that future, together.
Thank you and may God bless you in your work.
