Earlier: Joe Frank Martinez is the sheriff of Val Verde County, home to the #border city of Del Rio. He’s a conservative Democrat: He’s pro-gun and anti-abortion, and he supports Governor Greg Abbott’s multi-billion-dollar Operation Lone Star militarization mission. https://www.texasobserver.org/val-verde-county-sheriff-border-interview/
#Democrats #police #immigration #politics #USpol #Texas #GregAbbott
As they raise awareness of an ongoing genocide, activists for Palestinian liberation in San Marcos are transforming local politics in their Central Texas community.
Last week, their city council became the first in Texas to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In a state where even a hint of public support for Palestine brought threats from the governor to defund vital services, getting the resolution to a vote required years of coordinated organizing from a diverse, deeply engaged community who remain passionately opposed to the unfolding horrors of the Israeli occupation.
Read my interview with Amanda Rodriguez, who ran for local office after being inspired by local organizers efforts to force the city council to acknowledge the genocide in #Gaza: https://deceleration.news/gaza-ceasefire-vote-a-first-in-texas-san-marcos/
#politics #USpol #Palestine #Texas #activism #democracy #news #organizing #GregAbbott #fascism #HumanRights
Even though the measure failed under withering threats from Governor Greg Abbott, organizers say the struggle for Palestinian liberation in this small college town has had positive cascading effects for other justice struggles.
“Palestinian Liberation has always shown us that everything is interconnected.”
Out today in Deceleration: San Marcos' city council wouldn't acknowledge the genocide in #Gaza, so Amanda Rodriguez ran for city council and won. My interview with her and others from Palestine Solidarity SMTX. https://deceleration.news/gaza-ceasefire-vote-a-first-in-texas-san-marcos/
#Texas #politics #USpol #news #GregAbbott #Palestine #democracy #solidarity #activism
Even though the measure failed under withering threats from Governor Greg Abbott, organizers say the struggle for Palestinian liberation in this small college town has had positive cascading effects for other justice struggles.
From Francesca D'Annunzio in 2024: Ever since Governor Greg Abbott ramped up #border militarization in the area by placing dangerous buoys in the river, these mourners have assembled under the moniker the Border Vigil to remember the lives of those lost crossing. https://www.texasobserver.org/mourning-migrants-with-the-militarys-permission/
#GregAbbott #immigration #HumanRights #Texas #politics #USpol #news
Earlier: "They don’t know what we experience—or don’t experience—on a day-to-day basis. Some of those people that are commenting or viewing from a million miles away don’t have a clue." https://www.texasobserver.org/val-verde-county-sheriff-border-interview/
#border #police #ICE #GregAbbott #Democrats #politics #USpol #Texas #SouthTexas #news
Featured story from Michelle Pitcher: Republicans want to double down on a system that can keep Texans in jail for years without a trial, while attacking bail funds that try to help. https://www.texasobserver.org/bail-legislature-abbott-jails/
#Texas #HumanRights #law #politics #USpol #TXlege #GregAbbott #Republicans #news
"I invite those people to come to the border and take a tour of the border at any time. Give me a call. Right now, they’re not gonna see anything, ’cause nothing’s happening." https://www.texasobserver.org/val-verde-county-sheriff-border-interview/
#border #immigration #politics #USpol #news #ICE #GregAbbott #Democrats
Now, 5 people, all with *ties* to Democratic candidates, are accused of illegal *vote harvesting*, which usually involves knocking on doors & asking if volunteers can deliver completed absentee or mail-in ballots to voting centers or ballot drop boxes.
In 2021, Gov #GregAbbott signed an overhaul of #Texas #election laws which included new restrictions on vote harvesting, making it illegal to deliver a ballot for a 3rd party.
#VotingRights #law #ElectionLaw #Republicans #racism #VoteSuppression
Analysis: Governor Greg Abbott's failure to keep property tax relief promises is a quiet acknowledgement by #Texas’ top pols that the state cannot forever spend gargantuan sums every two years on what amounts window dressing for an utterly broken system of taxation. https://www.texasobserver.org/high-cost-property-tax-cuts-texas/
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