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

August 15, 2024

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.

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

August 9, 2024

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:

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TOP statement on the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

July 20, 2024

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

June 19, 2024

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:

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

June 4, 2024

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)

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Texas Organizing Project celebrates 2024 PRIDE Month

June 2, 2024

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:

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TOP: “Justice is finally catching up to Donald Trump”

May 31, 2024

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Co-Executive Director, in response to former President Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial:

“Justice is finally catching up to Donald Trump.

“He can whine and gaslight the public all he wants, but the fact remains that Trump – a coup-plotting, twice-impeached racist who’s racked up four criminal indictments – has rightfully been found guilty on 34 felony counts by a jury of his peers.

“Meanwhile, here in Texas, MAGA loyalists Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, and Ted Cruz, are taking to social media to deflect and provide political cover for a con man who attempted to overturn an election and who incited a horde of white supremacists to storm the U.S. Capitol.

“No matter what we look like or where we come from, each and every one of us deserves elected leaders who will defend our democracy and fairly govern with integrity. Any official who lies to the American people, stokes violence and division, and refuses to take responsibility for the harm they cause is unfit to represent us.

“While Trump’s self-inflicted legal woes continue, TOP will be in Black and Latino neighborhoods across Texas this fall, engaging with voters at their doorstep and countering his white nationalist MAGA agenda with a bold, transformative #TexasForAll vision where progressive, people-powered candidates uphold our rights and freedoms.”

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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.

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TOP PAC congratulates endorsed progressive candidates on hard-fought primary runoff wins

May 29, 2024

The following statement is from Michelle Tremillo, Co-Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), commenting on TOP-endorsed candidate victories in Tuesday’s Texas Democratic primary runoff:

“Tuesday’s election results make clear once more that progressive values, policies, and leaders are the future of Texas.

“TOP is building this future each election cycle through year-round, issue-based organizing rooted in economic and racial justice that links what matters in the daily lives of Black and Latino Texans to the ballot box.

“Our members are proud to have endorsed Rebeca Clay-Flores (Bexar County Commissioner, Pct. 1), Molly Cook (Texas Senate, Dist. 15), Lauren Ashley Simmons (Texas State Representative, Dist. 146), as well as Annette Ramirez (Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector), and we congratulate them on their runoff wins Tuesday. This is what happens when a people-powered progressive agenda is coupled with vigorous on-the-ground voter engagement.

“This vision is needed now more than ever as we counter unprecedented right-wing attacks on our basic rights, while paving the road to the future where ALL Texans are represented fairly – regardless of our race, age, faith, gender, or economic status.”

Dr. Doshie Piper, TOP Board Co-President, added:

“The outcomes of these primary runoffs unequivocally show the expansion of progressive influence throughout our state, with Black and Latino Texas voters having their presence felt.

“The general election is fast approaching, and TOP PAC is fully prepared to utilize this progressive momentum to meaningfully connect with voters at their doorstep and further transform the political terrain of Texas.”

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Texas Organizing Project 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.

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Texas Organizing Project Condemns NRA and Trump’s Extremist Agenda at Dallas Annual Meeting

May 18, 2024

DALLAS – The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) strongly condemns the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) annual meeting in Dallas this weekend and former President Donald Trump’s extremist agenda that continues to fuel division and violence across the United States. TOP stands in solidarity with those advocating for comprehensive gun safety measures to address the urgent crisis of gun violence in our communities.

The NRA’s influence and rhetoric have long perpetuated a culture of fear and division, epitomized by their support of Donald Trump, who received more than $30 million from the NRA during his 2016 campaign. Under Trump’s leadership, the NRA intensified its fear-mongering and divisive rhetoric, casting Trump’s opponents in apocalyptic terms and inciting distrust and animosity.

As the NRA gathers in Dallas, TOP highlights the stark contrast between the NRA’s agenda and the urgent need for gun safety reforms. The NRA’s influence has directly opposed measures that could prevent tragedies like the El Paso shooting, where a white supremacist targeted a predominantly Latino community, killing 22 people and injuring 24 others. This monstrous act, driven by racial hatred, underscores the profound impact of white supremacy and the pressing need for comprehensive gun control measures.

“Hosting the NRA’s annual meeting in Dallas is a painful reminder of the countless lives lost to gun violence and the NRA’s role in blocking basic safety measures,” said OEshay Hutchinson, a community organizer with TOP’s Right2Justice campaign in Dallas County. “Donald Trump’s extremist agenda and the NRA’s relentless opposition to gun legislation prioritize profit over people, further endangering our communities.”

The NRA’s convention coincides with the anniversaries of the Santa Fe High School shooting and Uvalde tragedy in our state, where dozens of lives were horrifically cut short. These anniversaries serve as somber reminders of the urgent need for action.

“We stand with the families affected by gun violence and demand meaningful change NOW!” Hutchinson continued. “The NRA and Trump’s words only serve to deepen the divide in our country and incite violence. But as Texans, we know we are stronger together! It’s time to put the safety and well-being of our communities ahead of the interests of the gun lobby. Let’s continue to build power and elect progressive community champions to every level of government. ALL Texans – regardless of our race, income, or ZIP Code – deserve to live in an environment free from the threat of gun violence.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

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BlackTOP statement on Gov. Abbott pardoning convicted murderer Daniel Perry

May 17, 2024

The following statement is from Terrance “TK” Koontz of BlackTOP, in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pardoning Daniel Perry, a man convicted last year of murdering Garrett Foster at a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin in 2020:

“Yesterday, Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned a convicted murderer, seemingly because in Abbott’s eyes Black lives have little if any value.

“Our governor refuses to acknowledge the countless contributions that Black Texans have made and continue to make in spite of years of systemic oppression that our communities have endured. Black Texans have the right to demand humane treatment. Like countless politicians before him, his fear of acknowledging and taking accountability for the tragic history of anti-Black racism and racial capitalism in this state leads him to turn a blind eye when dehumanization is thrust upon Texans exercising their constitutional rights. These are Texans taking a stand against the brutalization of Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement, and who voice their support for our collective liberation. This is how much Abbott dreads doing what’s morally right.

“Being fully aware of the growing white nationalist wing of today’s Republican Party and folding to its pressure, Abbott’s decision to overturn the conviction of Daniel Perry is a clear signal that Black lives still do not matter in Texas. Furthermore, neither do the lives of any individuals who choose to stand up and fight for justice.

“It should infuriate every Texan who wholeheartedly believes in justice and freedom that we have in the Governor’s Mansion, a supposed “leader” who is afraid to stand for what is right and just for all his constituents. Rather than showing compassion for the Black community and working to find solutions that would benefit all Texans for generations to come, he twists our state’s legal system to avoid addressing anti-Black racism and holding far-right extremists accountable.

“The good news is no weapon formed against us will prosper. Our voices will not be silenced and our movement will not relent. The millions of Black and Latino Texans who proudly reside in this state are certain to build the collective power required to create a future where ALL Texans can live free and thrive — regardless of our race, faith, gender, or background. THAT is the future BlackTOP is fighting for because we are stronger together!

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Garrett Foster as they continue to grieve and process the loss of their loved one, especially after this appalling act from our governor.”

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BlackTOP was built on the premise that the future of Texas rests in organizing Black folks across the state and getting US to the polls. With offices in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, BlackTOP launched canvassing programs across multiple Texas counties to talk to, organize, and mobilize Black voters ahead of the 2022 election. For more information, visit blacktoptexas.org.

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