Brianna Brown, Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project, shared the following statement:

“Honoring a century of Black History Month means honoring the immeasurable impact Black Americans have had, and will continue to have, on this country and every facet of society.

“Organizing in Texas, the state home to the largest population of Black people in the U.S., TOP lifts up and channels the legacies of Black revolutionaries, freedom fighters, and fearless visionaries, each and every day as we build power with our communities. 

“Reaching this 100 year milestone is not simply a celebration, but a testament to the immense resolve of our ancestors whose struggles and sacrifices forged a path we are still on today, with collective liberation as our North Star. And no racist regime will erase or stop us from prevailing.

Pearline Harper, TOP member in Dallas County, added:

“Ensuring the next 100 years of Black History Month is a call to action – one that will be determined by how we as a country respond to the injustices being perpetrated right now every day by this white nationalist administration.

“At TOP, our commitment to fighting their authoritarian agenda based in anti-Blackness has never been greater. 

“Our organizational value of solidarity anchors us in this fight, and it is what will fuel us as we boldly reimagine what is possible and self-determine our next 100 years, to create a Texas where every person – regardless of age, race, faith, or gender – can truly live free and thrive.”

###

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), emphasizing the heightened significance of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

“Honoring Dr. King’s life means acknowledging his full unapologetic self, not as some timid peacemaker who always “played by the rules” as today’s conservatives would have us believe, but as a revolutionary leader who organized communities, rallied the masses, challenged the status quo, drove change, and transformed society through his philosophy of nonviolence.

“As our nation slides into authoritarianism under this administration, Dr. King’s teachings and vision have never been more needed. He knew full well that changing hearts and minds required more than simply building bonds with one another, but constructing whole bridges rooted in unshakeable solidarity. This is work TOP has proudly committed itself to for now over 15 years.

Larry Smith, Dallas TOP member, added:

“Channeling Dr. King’s immense resolve, TOP remains steadfast in our fight for justice – to deliver meaningful and lasting change for Black and Latino Texans. This fearlessness and desire to have an impact doesn’t come out of a vacuum; it comes from the ingenuity and sacrifice of our ancestors, as we build off their legacy which provided us with the very freedoms and rights we find ourselves now defending from the grips of white nationalists.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward,” Dr. King famously said, hitting on the importance of us staying in this fight for our collective liberation, no matter what daunting obstacles come our way. This tenacious mindset is what will win us a Texas for all – a state where each and every person has the means to thrive, regardless of their age, race, faith, or gender.”

###

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in response to the five-year mark of President Donald Trump inciting his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol, attempting to overturn a national election and overthrow the federal government:

“No amount of gaslighting will ever hide the fact that five years ago Donald Trump and MAGA plotted a coup to overturn the will of voters after he lost the 2020 presidential election.

“Millions across the country that day witnessed on televisions and smartphone screens mobs violently try to dismantle our democracy – the very democracy that Trump is now chipping away at through cruel policies targeting entire communities and our nation’s most marginalized.

“Trump is as unhinged and power-hungry as ever. He and his administration threaten the wellbeing of our country and the freedom of all who call it home. 

“TOP knows that Texas is ground zero in the fight to defend democracy. In our state alone, more than 100 Texans were directly involved in this attack on January 6, the state with the second most insurrectionists. From our governor to our senators, representatives, and local officials, far too many Texas Republicans to this day remain complicit with the white nationalist violence that transpired.

“No matter your age, race, gender, faith, nationality, or income, we unapologetically organize for a vision where every person can prosper and is guaranteed the dignity they deserve, as well as a future where those who try to trample our rights are actually held accountable.

“While Trump and MAGA seek to pit people against one another, TOP is working to build bridges, foster community, and advance justice. And no insurrectionists will stop us.”

###