Month: September 2026

HOME > 2026 > September

Texas Organizing Project, partners provide legal relief to Dallas area residents at free expungement clinic

September 14, 2026

Groups come together to help eligible community members clear old charges

The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) held its first-ever Dallas expungement clinic Saturday, Sept.12, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, with nearly 250 people in attendance. A total of 87 eligible participants were seen by legal professionals during the clinic, giving many peace of mind knowing they will have old charges removed from their criminal record.

“This clinic was about more than clearing records, it was about clearing barriers,” said Dr. Doshie Piper, Restorative Justice Coordinator at TOP and the lead of the organization’s Right2Justice campaign centered on legal reform. “For eligible participants, we are investing in actually clearing those records and removing barriers to employment, housing, economic stability, and full participation in their communities. This is what Right2Justice looks like. This is what a path to liberation looks like.”

TOP allies Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), ACLU of Texas, CN Initiative provided helpful resources during the clinic, with Easy Expunctions conducting direct assessments with attendees who qualified to have their records cleared.

“Events like this show what is possible when legal support and community-based resources come together in one space,” said Brenda Piloya Todwong, Founder & CEO, CN Initiative. “For CN Initiative, it was especially meaningful to connect with people not only seeking resources, but also looking for ways to stay engaged, give back, and be a part of their community.”

Christopher Rivera, Criminal Legal Program Senior Advocacy Manager at TCRP, added: “The need for these services are apparent, and it’s organizations like TOP who are ensuring that our residents rights are being restored after they have served their time. The city and county need to step up and offer more records clearing clinics to help people get back on their feet.”

To learn more and get involved in TOP’s Right2Justice legal reform efforts, contact Dr. Doshie Piper at dpiper@organizetexas.org.

###

HOME > 2026 > September

TOP commemorates the power of Texas workers this Labor Day

September 7, 2026

Christina Quintero, member of Texas Organizing Project (TOP) in Houston, shared the following statement:

“Today is a bold reminder that it’s our labor, the work of everyday people, that drives this state and nation forward in every way possible. 

“As workers, our collective power is invaluable, and no politician — from city hall to the White House — will ever strip us of the dignity that’s inherently ours.

“No matter your age, race, gender, where you’re from, or who you pray to, we as Texans know our worth, and we are worth so much more than what anti-worker elected leaders who are beholden to billionaires would have us believe.

“It’s these same billionaires who want us divided and distracted, because they recognize that when workers rise together and stand united, we can override their influence to win the future we want.”

Pearline Harper, TOP member in Dallas, added:

“This administration is a mess, and the cost of living is only increasing. From crippling our economy with tariffs, to decimating the federal workforce, Trump and MAGA officials are as anti-worker as ever.

“It’s up to us to continue to show up and send a message that there is power in numbers through collective action — including our votes. When we show unwavering solidarity, our political power is unstoppable.

“Organizing alongside allies, nothing will stop our push for the fair treatment all working people deserve.”

###