Three Years After Dobbs Overturned Roe, Texas Leaders Condemn Deadly Toll of Abortion Ban & Health Crisis

Sepsis. Delays. Death. Black women like Porsha Ngumezi are dying in the state ranked worst in the nation for health care access.

Three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, clearing the way for Texas’s total abortion ban, the consequences are no longer theoretical; they are fatal. Porsha Ngumezi, Josseli Barnica, and Nevaeh Crain died of sepsis after suffering delays in care while experiencing pregnancy loss. Their stories are part of a documented rise in maternal deaths and life-threatening infections that accelerated after Texas fully implemented its abortion ban following the Dobbs decision, as exposed in a landmark 2025 investigation by ProPublica.

Just this month, a new report from the Commonwealth Fund ranks Texas worst in the nation for health care access and affordability. The crisis is hitting Black and Latino Texans hardest, from skyrocketing uninsured rates to avoidable deaths from delayed care.

Shellie Hayes-McMahon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, said:

This is what state-sanctioned neglect looks like. Women like Porsha, Josseli, and Nevaeh didn’t die because of rare conditions, they died because lawmakers criminalized standard medical care and created a culture of fear inside hospitals.

The Dobbs decision gave Texas the green light to enforce its total abortion ban. What followed was a spike in sepsis and a rise in maternal deaths. We are now seeing the results: more maternal deaths, more preventable suffering, and a health system collapsing under political extremism. 

Texas can’t afford another year of this, much less another life lost. PPTV will make sure Texans remember who put these cruel policies in place—at the ballot box and beyond. This ban won’t go unchecked.

Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project, added:

“What’s happening in Texas isn’t an accident, it’s a strategy. A strategy to control our bodies, silence our voices, and abandon our communities. Black and Latino Texans are dying because politicians would rather score points than protect people.

But we are not standing by. We are knocking doors, testifying, voting, and organizing until we have a state that values our lives, not just our labor or our pain. Texas belongs to the people, and we’re fighting like it.”

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The Texas Organizing Project 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. Learn more at organizetexas.org.

Planned Parenthood Texas Votes (PPTV) is the nonpartisan policy, advocacy and political arm for the Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas.

Houston community groups demand increased spending on housing in federal disaster recovery package as Whitmire welcomes HUD Secretary

Texas Organizing Project (TOP), West Street Recovery, Texas Housers, Northeast Action Collaborative (NAC), and the Coalition for the Environment, Equity and Resilience (CEER) are demanding that Mayor Whitmire and council members increase the allocation for housing in the City’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.

The community groups are calling for a total housing investment of at least $115 million in the $314.6 million relief funds package, claiming Mayor Whitmire’s recent $50 million allocation is inadequate. This demand comes as Mayor Whitmire welcomes HUD Secretary Turner while the Trump administration angles to slash housing investments and upends disaster forecasting and response through his attacks on FEMA and NOAA. 

Houston’s housing crisis is made worse by increasingly extreme weather. Tens of thousands of Houston families are still living with damage from Hurricane Beryl and the 2024 derecho, with several facing leaking roofs, structural hazards, and mold. For many, the next severe storm could bring even more destruction — because repairs and weatherization haven’t happened.  

The community groups urged the Whitmire administration to allocate funding for housing in its initial disaster recovery proposal, where $0 in funding was dedicated to housing at the start.

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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 Board Names Brianna Brown Sole Executive Director to Lead Organization Into Next Chapter

Brown will start this position January 2026, marking a renewed commitment to uniting Black and Latino Texans in the fight for democracy and shared power

Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Board of Directors announced today that Brianna Brown has been named the organization’s next and sole Executive Director, effective January 2026. Since 2020, Brown and Michelle Tremillo, one of TOP’s Co-Founders, have been Co-Executive directors, together leading the largest community-based organization in Texas.  

“As Co-Presidents of TOP, we are thrilled to name Brianna Brown as the next sole Executive Director of this organization we love,” said Dr. Doshie Piper and Maria Victoria de la Cruz. “Brianna brings deep strategy, clarity of purpose, and unshakable commitment to our members. She has long been one of the boldest architects of TOP’s evolution — and her vision for uniting Black and Latino communities in a shared fight for justice is exactly what this moment demands. This is how we win the Texas of our dreams – a Texas For All, where every person can live their best life, regardless of where they call home or what language they speak.”

“I’m deeply excited about what’s possible for our organization in this next chapter with Brianna as Executive Director. She has vision and an undeniable drive to positively change the landscape of our state and communities” added Debra Walker, Board President of Texas Organizing Project Education Fund (TOPEF). “I see an organization that continues to grow its power — not just through policy wins, but through the everyday transformation of people stepping into leadership and fostering a vibrant community of leaders who can drive meaningful change. It fills me with joy to see new leaders of all ages and backgrounds rise up from our base to organize with love, urgency, and bold vision.”

Brown, a fourth-generation Texan raising two fifth-generation daughters, joined TOP in 2013 as a healthcare organizer. Since then, she has helped shape every major chapter of the organization’s growth — leading local campaigns, launching TOP’s communications and narrative strategy, co-founding the landmark BlackTOP program, and steering internal transformations to root the organization in pro-Black values. She became Deputy Director, then Co-Executive Director in 2020.

“Brianna is the right leader for this next chapter,” said Michelle Tremillo. “She’s a seasoned strategist and a movement builder, but more importantly, she is deeply grounded in the belief that Black and Latino communities deserve to lead. Her work has always centered on shared power. I’m so excited to see her lead TOP into its future.”

In 2023, Brown led more than 80 staff and members on a pilgrimage to Montgomery and Selma — a powerful turning point in shaping TOP’s Stronger Together initiative and deepening its internal commitment to pro-Black organizing. That same year, BlackTOP — the largest-ever investment in Black voters in Texas — reached over 1.4 million Texans through a strategic blend of door-knocking, digital outreach, and voter education. These programs connected voters across county lines and generations in pursuit of a shared, inclusive democracy.

“I’ve never known myself outside of a Black political identity,” Brown said. “I’ve been organizing since I was a teenager, and the truth is — I’m about the work. TOP is about building real political homes for our communities, where our values, our power, and our voices lead. I’m honored to step into this role, and I’m ready to lead with clarity, care, and a vision for a Texas where all of us — Black and Latino, across class, ZIP Code, and immigration status — thrive together.”

Leaders Praise Brown’s Vision and Track Record:

“Brianna builds power from the ground up. Not for one election cycle, but for the long haul. She’s a movement strategist who listens deeply and leans into the communities she organizes with, making sure their voices shape the vision and the victories.”DaMareo Cooper & Analilia Mejia, Co-Executive Directors, Popular Democracy

“Some people talk about change. Brianna builds it — block by block, policy by policy, election by election. She understands that local organizing isn’t the end goal — it’s the engine that moves entire systems. Texas is different because of her, and the ripple effects are just beginning.” Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Commissioners Court, Pct. 1

“Brianna leads with vision, strategy, and a deep-rooted commitment to our people. She has an unwavering belief in the power of Black and Latino Texans to shape a new future. Naming her sole Executive Director is a declaration that TOP is ready to go deeper, bolder, and be even more rooted in building a Texas rewritten by its true majority.” Tarsha Jackson, Houston City Council Member, Dist. B

“Brianna is a bold and compassionate leader who understands that organizing is sacred work. She brings heart, vision, and a deep commitment to justice that will continue to shape Texas. I’m proud to stand with her as she leads TOP into its next chapter.” — Pastor Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Friendship West Baptist Church  

“Brianna is one of the most visionary movement leaders in the country. She turns values into strategy and strategy into power — exactly what this moment demands.”Maurice Mitchell, National Director, Working Families Party

“Brianna Brown is the kind of leader who understands that lasting change starts with the people most impacted — and she never loses sight of that. Whether she’s mobilizing voters, sharpening strategy, or calling out injustice, Brianna brings vision and grit rooted in community. Texas — and the country— is stronger because of her leadership.”Andrea Mercado, President & CEO, The Climate & Clean Energy Equity Fund

Brown serves as Vice Chair of Popular Democracy’s board and she also sits on the board of its advocacy arm, Popular Democracy Action. Additionally, Brown is board chair of the Texas For All political table, a coalition that is building progressive infrastructure across the state. During the 2022 election cycle, Brown’s leadership was featured in the documentary TEXAS, USA.  Her story — like TOP’s — is a testament to the grit, imagination, and collective action required to preserve and expand democracy.

“Texas isn’t an unengaged state — it’s a place full of untapped power. And we’re building the infrastructure to unleash it,” Brown said. “And that’s what we’re changing. We’re turning Texas Teal. We’re proving that progressive power is possible when we organize year-round, invest in our people, and stay rooted in joy, strategy, and solidarity.”

TOP will continue its year-round campaigns in criminal justice, housing, healthcare, and voting rights while deepening its organizing presence in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant, and Fort Bend counties.

“The stakes are too high to go it alone,” Brown added. “We are stronger together — and this next chapter for TOP is about bringing even more of our people into the fight for a future where we all belong.”

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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP):
The Texas Organizing Project 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. Learn more at organizetexas.org.

TOP: “They Delayed Our Freedom, But Now We Get To Define It”

This Juneteenth, we celebrate us — our legacy, our resilience, and our joy. We commemorate that moment in Galveston, Texas, when enslaved Black people were FINALLY told they were free, two and a half years after emancipation had officially been declared. We honor the truth that Black freedom has never simply been granted — it’s always been fought for, carved out, and protected with everything we’ve had.

At TOP, we will be returning to Galveston, not just to mark a date in history, but to connect the spirit of our ancestors who dreamed of a world we’re still building. We’re making a pilgrimage to the birthplace of Juneteenth — to celebrate how far we’ve come, and to recommit to our ongoing journey toward liberation.

“Juneteenth is not just a reminder of delayed freedom, it’s a reminder of unstoppable Black courage and vision,” said Dr. Doshie Piper, TOP Board Co-President.

“Even after centuries of being chained, cheated, and treated callously, we are STILL here — leading, creating, loving, and rising. This day is about the power we have always had within us. And as we celebrate, we remember we come from people who made liberation possible through their faith, inner-fire, and most importantly, being there for each other.” 

Tarasha Hollis, Statewide Political Data Coordinator, shares her perspective on the significance of Juneteenth and recommitting to the fight for true freedom:

“We are standing on the shoulders of ancestors who faced terror, yet still found ways to share joy; people who were denied basic rights, yet still found ways to build futures. But let’s be abundantly clear: there are politicians today who are working just as hard to roll back our rights — to silence our voices, ban our stories, and inflict harm on our communities. One of the most critical ways we can fight back against reductive and oppressive politicians and policies, is by deciding to still find joy, to still celebrate each other and our wins, and to continue to build community amongst one another. Our shared joy must be our fuel. We owe it to those who laid the foundation to organize, vote, and demand better. THAT is how we honor Juneteenth.”

Even as we withstand modern-day attacks on our people — from book bans to housing injustice, voter suppression to ICE raids, we know the truth: Black Texans are not new to the struggle, and we’re never without power.

This is Juneteenth. We won’t just reflect, we’ll reignite. We rise in celebration. We rise in memory. We rise in action. 

Because our freedom is sacred and our joy is political. And our movement will never be stopped.

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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.

Michelle Tremillo to Transition from Co-Executive Director Role After 16 Years of Building Power with Texas Organizing Project

Tremillo helped grow TOP into a political powerhouse rooted in Black & Latino communities; leadership transition to be announced later in June

Michelle Tremillo, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), announced this past Friday that she will transition from TOP at the end of 2025 after 16 years of building one of the country’s most effective grassroots political organizations.

“TOP was founded to do what others said wasn’t possible: build a statewide powerhouse rooted in community, strategy, and justice. And we did,” Tremillo said. “I feel immense pride in what we’ve accomplished, and deep excitement for what comes next.”

Since co-founding TOP in 2009, the organization has become a leading force for building Black and Latino political power through strategic, community-rooted organizing and electoral engagement. Under Tremillo’s tenure, TOP developed the largest Black voter engagement program and the largest in-person Latino voter engagement program in Texas.

“We built our own infrastructure to win at the local level,” Tremillo explained. “Through our year-round organizing campaigns, we created systems that ensure the people most impacted by injustice have real decision-making power.”

TOP’s organizing has delivered transformative wins for working-class Black and Latino Texans, such as successfully pushing for enhanced library cards to be recognized as valid forms of identification in cities including San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, expanding access to public services for more than 10 million Texans; securing tens of millions of dollars for disaster recovery, home repair, and rent relief, advancing the belief that housing is a human right; and built a Black and Latino-led political force that has reached more than five million voters and helped elect dozens of progressive champions, from district attorneys, to mayors, to members of Congress.

“We reimagined what people-power could look like in Texas,” Tremillo said. “It wasn’t about empire-building. It was about building an ecosystem of power for Texas that will outlast any individual leader.”

Tremillo restructured TOP’s internal culture around transparency and inclusion, co-creating structures like County Leadership Teams to institutionalize member-led decision-making and establishing leadership pipelines that elevated local voices from member to organizer to movement leader.

“Michelle’s leadership has always been about the people,” said Dr. Doshie Piper, Maria Victoria de la Cruz, and Debra Walker, Co-Presidents of TOP and TOPEF (Texas Organizing Project Education Fund) Boards. “She co-founded a movement that reflects the power, brilliance, and resilience of Black and Latino Texans.”

Elected Leaders Praise Tremillo’s Impact

“Texas politics looks different today because of Michelle and TOP,” said San Antonio City Councilmember Jalen McKee Rodriguez. In a state where the odds are steep, she’s built a strategy and an organization that has made real power possible for Black and Latino communities. Her legacy lives in the leaders she’s developed, the systems she’s transformed, and the wins that once felt out of reach.”

“Michelle doesn’t just lead, she builds,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. She built infrastructure where none existed, mentored a generation of organizers, and refused to settle for symbolic change. The foundation she laid will continue shifting power in Texas long after her tenure ends.”

“Michelle Tremillo has helped shape Texas into a place where people, not corporations or political insiders, hold power,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “She didn’t just fight for a seat at the table; she built a new table and made sure it was led by our communities. She’s changed the conversation, and the consequences of that will ripple for decades.”

TOP’s Next Chapter 

TOP’s Board of Directors will announce the next phase of leadership in the coming weeks. The transition, years in the making, reflects a deliberate commitment to sustainability and shared power.

“Michelle has set the bar for what transformative leadership looks like,” said Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of TOP. “She’s led with integrity, humility, and an unwavering belief in the power of our people. It’s been a privilege to lead alongside her as we’ve built an organization grounded in shared values and real results.”

“This organization has never been about one person,” Tremillo concluded. “We’ve built something enduring, an ensemble of brilliant, grounded, and relentless people who are ready to take TOP into its next era.”

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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.

San Antonio community and labor groups power Gina Ortiz Jones to victory in San Antonio

The following statement is from Dr. Doshie Piper, Board Co-President of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in response to the group helping Gina Ortiz Jones win election as the next mayor of San Antonio:

“San Antonio voters made clear tonight they are hungry for people-powered progressive leadership at City Hall.

“They also said no to Gov. Greg Abbott and his big dollar PACs that pumped fear-mongering into this race. Right-wing groups spent over $2.1 million dollars to prop up their candidate, who was ultimately defeated. This once again shows how at the end of the day, it’s meaningful door-to-door conversations with voters that wins elections.

“In the span of three weeks, TOP PAC’s voter engagement program worked in conjunction with a roster of community and labor allies to make over 28,000 door knocks across San Antonio — reaching out to predominantly Black and Latino households that too often are ignored by traditional political campaigns. This election win would not have been possible without the hard work of our partners ACT4SA Action PAC, AFSCME San Antonio Local 2021, UNITE HERE Local 23, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, San Antonio Alliance, LIUNA Local 1095, and Texas Majority PAC.

“Understanding how much is on the line for San Antonians this election — from protecting our rights, to improving neighborhood infrastructure, to making housing and childcare more affordable — TOP PAC is in the streets of working Black and Latino neighborhoods pushing for the political and policy shifts our communities deserve.”

“We are ecstatic about Gina Ortiz Jones’s election, and look forward to further strengthening our working relationship with her to address the priorities of working-class San Antonio families.”

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About Texas Organizing Project PAC:
Texas Organizing Project (TOP) PAC runs the largest, independent get-out-the-vote political programs in Texas, focusing on expanding the electorate of color, with an emphasis on turning out Black and Latino voters. To date, TOP PAC has mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters across the state with the aim of building a reflective democracy–one that looks like us and shares our values.

Texas Organizing Project Condemns Tarrant County Redistricting as Racial Gerrymandering

FORT WORTH, TX — What happened yesterday in Tarrant County was nothing short of a power grab. With a 3-2 vote, the Commissioners Court approved a redistricting map that strips Black and Latino communities in Precinct 2 of their voice and their power.

This mid-decade redraw, with no new census data and no public mandate, is a calculated act of racial gerrymandering. It tears apart neighborhoods that have consistently come together to elect candidates who reflect their values. It carves out economic hubs like Globe Life Field and downtown Fort Worth, gutting the heart of our political and economic strength.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just partisan politics, it’s systemic racism doing what it always has. But we see it, we name it, and we’ll fight back.

Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has openly admitted in the past that this redistricting is about securing Republican control, stating, “The mission is to get three Republican commissioners” on the court. This confession lays bare the true intent: to dilute the voting power of communities of color for partisan gain.

This isn’t just unethical; it’s illegal. The Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment were created to stop exactly this kind of racial discrimination. We won’t sit back while our communities are carved up and silenced.

We are fighting back.

“This map is an insult to the voters of Precinct 2. It’s a deliberate attempt to dilute the voices of Black and Latino communities who have fought hard to be heard. We will not be erased. I stand with our residents, with our movement, and with every legal and moral tool we have to fight this injustice.” — Commissioner Alisa Simmons, Tarrant County Precinct 2

The Texas Organizing Project stands in unwavering solidarity with Commissioner Alisa Simmons, Congressman Marc Veasey, and the hundreds of Tarrant County residents who’ve raised their voices against this injustice.

“When they silence our voices at the ballot box, they’re trying to silence our dignity, our demands, and our dreams,” said Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project. “This is a direct assault on the political power of Black and Latino communities who have fought too long and too hard to be pushed aside. But let me be clear, we are not going anywhere. Our fight for justice, fairness, and representation will continue with more resolve and more unity than ever before.”

This fight is far from over.

Our communities are resilient, and our movement is growing. We will not be deterred by racist tactics or political games. We will continue to fight for fair representation, for our voices to be heard, and for a Texas that truly represents all its people.

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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.