TOP commemorates Indigenous Peoples’ Day

The following is a statement from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), on the community organizing group’s observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year:

“The contributions made by Indigenous peoples the world over are vast, invaluable, and forever woven into the fabric of our society.

“Audacious in every which way, Indigenous communities for centuries have withstood the destructive force of racial capitalism and white supremacy.

“Their unshakeable resistance against the genocidal tool of colonization serves as a stark reminder why our movement’s fight for the liberation of us all – no matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, or where we call home – is as vital as it is non-negotiable. 

“We know full well that Indigenous rights are human rights, and that our efforts to advance racial and economic justice for Black and Latino Texans will always be intertwined. It’s one reason why TOP now shares land acknowledgments in our organizing spaces.

“Each and every day, we are building solidarity across communities of color in our state, as TOP seeks to dismantle the systemic racism that for too long has held back Black, Latino, and Indigenous people, and instead manifest a #TXForAll vision rooted in freedom and justice.”  

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP: “Honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month means acknowledging the full humanity of ALL who make up and elevate our Latino communities”

The following is a statement from Michelle Tremillo, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Co-Executive Director, on the organization’s observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month this year:

“We can’t stand idly by at a time when morally bankrupt politicians are spewing vitriol and lies about migrants, particularly our Haitian Afro-Latino brothers and sisters, who are the latest target of Republican racist conspiracies intended to divide us. We show solidarity, speak out, and electorally send a strong message at the ballot box.

“Honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month means acknowledging the full humanity of ALL who make up and elevate our Latino communities — no matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, or what country we call home. It also means recognizing the growing cultural and political impact we Latinos are having in Texas and across the United States.

“TOP vehemently rejects this bigotry being spread against migrants and is responding by ramping up our organizing rooted in racial and economic justice, while mobilizing Black and Latino Texas voters to participate in what will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.”

Andrea Osorio, TOP Education Fund Board Member, added:

“As a mother and proud Latina in Texas, I see firsthand the contributions our communities make, as working Latino families like mine are key to fueling the economic engine of our state. Yet, year after year, our increasingly-authoritarian state Republican leaders seek to diminish and divide us through hateful words and policy.

“Texans are worth more. And I am one of millions of Latinos in this state who is ready to build a future where housing is more affordable, healthcare is more accessible, public education is better supported, and our judicial system is more humane.

“At TOP, we choose to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by remaining committed to manifesting an inclusive vision that gets us closer to our collective liberation.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP Endorses Colin Allred for U.S. Senate: Texans deserve a true, people-powered leader

Today, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) announced its endorsement of Colin Allred for U.S. Senate.

Dr. Doshie Piper, TOP Board Co-President based in San Antonio, offered the following statement:

“When MAGA extremists like Ted Cruz continue to push their vile agenda intended to divide, diminish, and dehumanize working Black and Latino Texans, TOP members and supporters just don’t sit on the sidelines. We mobilize, vote, and fight back.

“Building a stronger, more progressive, and inclusive Texas means electing responsive leaders who will fight for a future where ALL in our state can thrive — no matter what part of Texas you live, the language you speak, or how much money you have in our pocket.

“That’s why TOP is proud to endorse Colin Allred, an accomplished civil rights attorney and member of Congress, who has shown he’s committed to championing issues important to our communities — such as good-paying jobs, quality public schools, legal system reform, and the expansion of healthcare access.”

Julie Alonzo-Rivera, TOP Board Member based in Dallas, added:

“Since his election in 2012, working Texans have seen for themselves how out-of-touch Ted Cruz is with the needs of everyday people. He’s too busy being a Trump lackey, and will say and do anything to gain ‘respect’ in the eyes of the far-right fringe.

“Meanwhile, through his work in Congress and in the community, Colin has demonstrated he’s a listener, leader, and humble public servant who truly believes in a Texas for all. 

“Along with millions of others across the country, TOP is ready to turn the page on unhinged Donald Trump and his MAGA loyalist ‘Cancun Cruz.’ Texans can trust Colin Allred to defend our rights and improve our quality of life.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP Celebrates Movement Power This Labor Day

The following is a statement from Tempestt McHenry, Staff Union Co-President of Texas Organizing Project (TOP) located in Dallas County, on the organization’s observance of Labor Day this year:

“Make no mistake, it’s the ever-growing vibrancy of our labor movement that helps hold our country’s democracy together while driving its economic prosperity.

“This resurgence of organized labor we’re seeing is putting unprecedented pressure on wealthy mega-corporations and the political establishment to challenge racial capitalism and address equity and justice in ways they have not prior. It’s laying the groundwork for better wages, labor rights, worker protections, and a social safety net — which historically have provided many in our nation, particularly Black and Latino Americans, with an added sense of economic stability and security for generations.

“Now in TOP’s third year as a unionized workplace, we as an organization recognize unapologetically that workers’ rights are human rights. This assertion has and will continue to connect right to the soul of our year-round community organizing and electoral engagement work.”

Shyda Blake, TOP Staff Union Co-President based in Harris County, added:

“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

“At a volatile political time, when implementation of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 is not a distant possibility, we as workers will not have our voices silenced while our fundamental rights are stripped away.

“The millions of Black and Latino Texas workers who proudly reside in this state have the opportunity to flex the collective power required to create a future where ALL Texans can live free and thrive — regardless of our race, faith, gender, or preferred language. THAT is a future we are fighting for, because as proud workers, we are stronger together.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP Endorses Kamala Harris for President: A Bold Step Toward Achieving A Reflective Democracy

Today, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is proud to announce our endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States. As an organization committed to championing Black and Latino communities across Texas, this endorsement marks a pivotal moment in our mission to ensure that communities of color not only have a seat at the table but also the power to drive meaningful change in our state.

“For over 240 years, the United States has struggled to fulfill its promise of a democracy that serves all its people. In all that time, we’ve only elected one Black president and one Black woman vice president,” said Brianna Brown, TOP Co-Executive Director. “The threat to democracy posed by Trump and his MAGA agenda movement, fueled by white supremacy, is undeniable and as dangerous as ever. Kamala Harris is a qualified, proven leader committed to our values who will protect and continue the progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve.”

Maria Victoria De La Cruz, TOP Board Co-President, added, “This endorsement is grounded in ensuring that our communities — Black, Latino, and working-class Texans — have a voice and means to shape a democracy that looks like us and reflects our values. TOP’s members know what’s at stake: a government that works for the powerful few, or a future where we all have the opportunity to thrive. Kamala Harris has stood with our communities, and we’re ready to stand with her to fight for a state and country where justice and equity can be fully realized for every person – regardless of race, age, gender, or income.”

During the 2022 election cycle, TOP reached over 1.4 million Black voters, and this cycle, we’re doubling down to turn out Black and Latino Texans across the state. Our work is far from done, and this endorsement is just the beginning.

Signed in solidarity:

Brianna Brown, TOP Co-Executive Director

Michelle Tremillo, TOP Co-Executive Director

Dr. Doshie Piper, TOP Board Co-President

Maria Victoria De La Cruz, TOP Board Co-President


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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP: “Gov. Abbott politically scapegoats immigrants to distract from his policy failures”

The following statement is from Damaris Gonzalez, TOP Statewide Immigration Lead Organizer, in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issuing an executive order instructing hospitals to collect data on patients’ immigration status:

“Gov. Abbott politically scapegoats immigrants to distract from his policy failures.

“Separating and dehumanizing members of our communities – people who are our family, friends, and neighbors – is straight out of the MAGA playbook.

“As his idol Donald Trump flails in the polls, struggling to connect with his racist, backwards vision for our country, Gov. Abbott is more than ready to demonize fellow Texans, because just like Trump he views Black and Brown immigrants as lesser than. 

“Hospitals should serve peoples’ health needs, not operate as intrusive immigration checkpoints.”

Irie Howard, TOP Statewide Healthcare Lead Organizer, added:

“Healthcare is a human right. Each and every person in our state deserves to have that right upheld. 

“If Greg Abbott honestly cared about saving our state money while improving the health of Texans, he would have expanded our Medicaid program in 2015, his first year as governor.

“This reckless executive order will put the health of everyday Texans’ at risk, as it’s intended to stoke fear and uncertainty in the more than 1.5 million undocumented immigrants who call this state home. 

“As Texans, we care for each other and look out for each other – no matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, or our documentation status. We are NOT letting our governor divide us.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP statement on the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

The following statement is from Dr. Doshie Piper, Board Co-President of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), born and raised in Houston, in reaction to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson succumbing to pancreatic cancer Friday:

“From the halls of Congress to the streets of Houston, Sheila Jackson Lee exemplified public service and leadership.

“Knowledgeable and tenacious, she approached her work as a lawmaker with an unwavering commitment to justice, defending our freedoms, and improving the lives of Harris County residents. TOP is proud to have worked with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for years to address issues that matter to working Houstonians, from housing, to healthcare access, to voting rights, and more.” 

Debra Walker, TOP Education Fund Board President and a longtime Houston resident, added:

“Our organization is grateful to have had the Congresswoman as a progressive ally in our fight for a #TexasForAll, a state where all feel valued and can thrive – no matter our age, race, or gender.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the Congresswoman, as well as all who she positively impacted over her more than 30 years as a public servant.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP: ​”Juneteenth is more than a historical milestone; it is a beacon of hope and a call to action​”

The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) celebrates Juneteenth 2024. This day, rooted in the history of Galveston, Texas, where Black enslaved Texans were informed of their freedom on June 19, 1865, symbolizes the ongoing fight for true liberation and the continuous delay for justice.

Angela Davis, renowned activist and scholar, describes Juneteenth as a “day that calls us to remember the sacrifices of our ancestors while urging us to continue the struggle for justice.” TOP remains steadfast in its mission to build power with Black and Latino communities across Texas through community organizing and civic engagement, 

Terrance Koontz, “TK,” TOP’s Director of Culture and Organizational Development, emphasizes the importance of Juneteenth in today’s context:

“Juneteenth is more than a historical milestone; it is a beacon of hope and a call to action. As an organization, we have embarked on a movement’s journey to challenge the greed and injustice of racial capitalism because for too long the rich and powerful have dictated the rules of the game. We know that the world we inherited was built off the backs of the people they enslaved, the land of indigenous people they stole, and the earth that they continue to exploit. This is not the legacy that we will pass down to our children. This Juneteenth, let us recommit ourselves to the work of building stronger together a future where every Texan – no matter their race, age, gender, or background – can thrive.”

Tempestt McHenry, Co-President of the TOP Workers Union, shares her perspective on the significance of Juneteenth for workers and communities:

“Juneteenth represents freedom, resilience, and the power of collective action. It is a reminder that our struggle for workers’ rights is deeply intertwined with the broader fight for racial and economic justice. As we celebrate this day, we honor the contributions of Black workers throughout history and recognize the ongoing challenges they face today. It was in 2021 that TOP held its first observance of Juneteenth as a staff holiday, as we commemorated it as #BlackLivesMatter Day, a day for Black joy and resistance. We’re proud to be celebrating it as such ever since, as we grow and make strides as a Pro-Black organization. For us, Juneteenth will be a day of respite and reflection, of jubilation and freedom dreaming. That is what liberation looks like to us: finding the possibility in all that seems impossible.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

TOP: “Implementing Trump-like anti-immigrant policies is unacceptable and a step backward for this administration”

The following statement is from Damaris Gonzalez, Statewide Immigration Lead Organizer of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in response to President Joe Biden announcing sweeping asylum restrictions through executive order:

“Playing politics with the lives of people seeking asylum is despicable and must never be normalized. No matter the color of your skin, the language you speak, or how much money you have to your name, seeking asylum is a fundamental human right.

“President Biden’s move to restrict asylum along our southern border not only violates international law, it endangers the lives of thousands of families in need of aid.

“Implementing Trump-like anti-immigrant policies is unacceptable and a step backward for this administration. Any executive order should focus on enacting bold humanitarian solutions to ease tension along our southern border, not on adopting harmful, exclusionary policies.

“TOP is proud to work with immigration justice allies in welcoming people seeking refuge in our communities and ensuring they have access to the resources they need to thrive. We do so while continuing to push for the common-sense, dignified immigration system that our country so desperately needs. Congress must act now to pass comprehensive immigration reform and permanent relief for DACA recipients, providing safety, stability, and security to millions of immigrants who call this country home.”

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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP)

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

Texas Organizing Project celebrates 2024 PRIDE Month

As we celebrate PRIDE Month, the Texas Organizing Project stands in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community, especially our Black and Latino, and non-binary brothers and sisters. This month is a time to honor the resilience, strength, and courage of those who have fought — and continue to fight — for justice and collective liberation. It is also a reminder of the work that remains to be done in our home state of Texas.

The following is a statement by Brianna Brown, Co-Executive director of the Texas Organizing Project. “For years now, conservatives have tried to erase the legacy and contributions that LGBTQIA+ people have made in this nation. Texas is not the first state to attempt to cancel, erase, and reduce our vibrant presence. Greg Abbott’s and Ken Paxton’s continuous attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, especially those targeting our trans community, are deeply troubling. These actions not only undermine the fundamental rights of people to live authentically and freely, but they also perpetuate a state of fear and allow room for discrimination.

“While PRIDE is a celebration of pursued liberation and progress, for Black and Latino queer people, the interwovenness of the two also illuminates the beauty and reality of their interconnected identities and continued marginalization.

“As we confront increasing white supremacy, over-policing, attacks on our freedoms, and attempts to erase our existence from this nation’s fabric. We believe that a better Texas is on the horizon, though — one where all Texans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender identity, can thrive.

“During this PRIDE Month, let us amplify the voices of our Black and Latino LGBTQIA+ community members, ensuring their experiences and contributions are recognized and valued. Stronger together, we’re building a Texas for all.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.