HOME > Articles by: josue

Battling voter suppression every inch of the way

April 8, 2021

Fueled by lies, paranoia, and racism, Texas Republicans are laser-focused this legislative session on making it harder for Black, Latino, and younger voters to cast their ballot.

Senate Bill (SB) 7, a Texas bill cut from the same cloth as the voter suppression law just passed in Georgia, made its way out of the Texas Senate last week, meaning it’s a dangerous step closer to becoming law. HB 6, a similar voter suppression bill in the Texas House, currently sits pending in committee.

Large Texas-based companies American Airlines and Dell voiced their opposition to these voter suppression bills in the last few days, and more are following suit. We need to urge our state representatives to say NO to Jim and Jane Crow 2.0.

TAKE ACTION: Click here to call your representative to demand they oppose SB 7 and HB 6.

WATCH today’s press conference featuring TOP, progressive statewide allies, as well as Black Voters Matter, Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro in response to these racist voter suppression efforts.

For more information, call or text Devin Branch at (832) 705-2291.

HOME > Articles by: josue

Ramping up pressure to defeat bad bail bill HB 20

HB 20, a similar bill to horrible bail bill SB 21, will be heard by the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence this afternoon.

More than 60% of people in Texas jails – nearly 40,000 people – have not been convicted of an offense and are stuck there simply because they cannot afford bail. HB 20 will result in even more people held in jail pre-trial. In addition, the bill would largely take away a judge’s discretion to release people on personal recognizance bond, and would require discriminatory risk assessment tools to be used for all who can not afford to purchase their release.

Share this Facebook graphic and call (512) 883-8959 to demand your state representative oppose HB 20!

For more information, call or text Laquita Garcia at (972) 342-5116.

HOME > Articles by: josue

Calling for a road to citizenship for undocumented essential workers

The March to Victory: Relay Across America continued in San Antonio yesterday as part of a nationwide effort to demand a roadmap to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants. As we continue to grapple with this pandemic, inclusive COVID recovery for all is necessary to ensure all get through the crisis.

In observance, TOP immigration campaign members marched “11 Miles for 11 Million” yesterday to raise their voices in support of the millions of undocumented essential workers risking their lives each and every day to keep us fed and sustain our nation’s economy during this pandemic. TOP believes it is long overdue that these essential workers receive not only added protections on the job, but a straightforward path to citizenship.

The Relay Across America consists of community-led efforts across the country, made up of in-person and virtual events, and kicked-off in Washington on March 17, with subsequent events planned in nearly 30 states through May 1. The relay aims to unite communities throughout the nation in calling for a humane immigration system that protects our 11 millions undocumented immigrants, including essential workers, DACA and TPS holders, and those who don’t currently have a pathway to citizenship.

Watch a news clip talking about the event here.

For more information, call or text Cristian Esparza at (210) 952-1096.

HOME > Articles by: josue

We’re endorsing Biden and Harris

October 5, 2020

We’re proud to announce the endorsed candidates TOP and TOP PAC will be pushing to the 1.6 million voters of color we are engaging this cycle, the new voices of Texas who will make the difference in flipping the state. TOP members screened more than 40 candidates this year, including during the primaries, in six counties across Texas. The endorsements were earned by candidates who have shown a commitment to centering the concerns and issues of Black and Latino communities, and who will fight with us to deliver policy changes that will improve our lives.

In this political moment, when our communities are hurting and putting their lives on the line because they’re frontline workers and are on the streets fighting for justice, our leaders felt the need to lean in on the issues that matter. Our leaders fully understand the challenges of passing more progressive legislation and want to stand behind elected leaders who will share our values on key issues and commit to figuring out how they use their office to move us closer to systemic policy shifts. We are ready to fight to elect the candidates who will fight with us. Then, once they’re elected, we’ll keep pushing them to deliver.

For 10 years, TOP has worked to grow the electorate in Texas by engaging Black and Latino voters with little or no history in voting. And for the first time in decades, Texas is a battleground state. Already, our program has sent more than one million texts and called more than 900,000 voters. We’re not just trying to win an election; we’re building a movement. This is how we’re building our power. This is how we’re going to change Texas to work for us.

View a list of our endorsed candidates here.

HOME > Articles by: josue

Energize and mobilize Texas voters with TOP

Early voting in Texas starts next Tuesday, October 13. We need your help contacting voters across the state to remind them of the high stakes of November’s election and help them cast their ballot. Our mission in 2020 is to further push our state toward a progressive future that will shift power into the hands of Black and Latino Texans. With your help, we can get one step closer to accomplishing this.

Join us for texting training sessions this Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. In these trainings, we will show you how to use an app to turn out your friends and families to the polls.

Text or call Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114 or tmchenry@organizetexas.org to get the Zoom link to these trainings.

HOME > Articles by: josue

“When is Juneteenth: Are we really free?” livestream this Saturday

TOP and Black Citizenship in Action this Saturday will present “When is Juneteenth: Are we really free?,” a safe space for Black people in Texas. This event will allow Black people from across the state to come together to discuss our citizenship identity in America.

At 11 a.m. Saturday on TOP’s Facebook page, we will broadcast a panel discussion covering past and current events impacting Black citizens and how we organize our communities moving forward.

Share the Facebook event here.

For more information, call or text Terrance “TK” Koontz at 832-998-1886.

HOME > Articles by: josue

Census deadline extended to Oct. 31. Fill it out!

Thanks to a recent federal court ruling, the last day to complete your 2020 Census is October 31. Don’t wait any longer; complete the Census today!

Remember that the Census determines how money is allocated for schools, roads, clinics and other important services. The Census count also goes toward determining the amount of representatives our communities have in Congress.

Visit my2020census.gov to answer the nine simple Census questions in your preferred language. Your immigration status does not matter; there are no questions about citizenship. Be counted!

HOME > Articles by: josue

Let’s Talk About Voting

September 22, 2020

In the most consequential election of our lives, we have to do everything we can to make sure everyone who can vote does vote. And a big part of that is getting people excited and informed. TOP is taking part of several online discussions to connect voters of color, talk about the issues we care about and talk about what it will take to win in November.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, our executive director, Michelle Tremillo, will join Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sec. Julián Castro for a town hall with Univision titled Destino 2020: Votar es Poder (Destiny 2020: Voting is Power) on the importance of the Latino vote. Catch the livestream at 6 p.m. at live.berniesanders.com.

On Wednesday, our deputy director, Brianna Brown, will join activists, organizers and lawyers from around the country to talk about the work being done right now to grow the electorate and secure our democracy. Join us at 8 p.m. on Facebook for the Rise Up for Justice: Voter Suppression and the Right to Vote panel hosted by Black Voters Matters and the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley. Share the Facebook event here. Spanish translation will be provided.

Last week, Crystal Zermeño, TOP’s director of electoral strategy, joined a panel on the Texas Tribune Festival to discuss TOP’s efforts to grow the Latino electorate. This year, TOP will connect with and engage more than 800,000 Latino voters who have rarely or never voted across five counties in Texas. Joining Crystal on the panel was Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar. Watch the panel here.

Election Day is nearing. Make sure you are registered to vote here, and once you are registered to vote, sign up here to get important updates and reminders to help you cast your vote.

If you have any questions about voting or want to volunteer to help others vote, call or text Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114.

HOME > Articles by: josue

Crucial Budget Vote Coming Up in Dallas

Working with In Defense of Black Lives Dallas, we have demanded transformational change to policing in the streets and at City Hall. We can’t let up now. A final vote on the city budget takes place this Wednesday.

We have to continue urging our elected city leaders to deliver that transformational change through a budget that reallocates funds away from the police department toward programs that build up and heal our communities.

If you’re a Dallas resident, sign up to speak at this Wednesday’s City Council meeting to let our elected leaders know that we can build a safer community by divesting from policing and investing in our communities.

Call the Dallas City Secretary’s Office at 214-670-3738 to sign up to speak on agenda item #92 or on the open mic portion. The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.

For more information, call or text Carvell Bowens at 214-934-8558.

HOME > Articles by: josue

Reimagining public safety in the Dallas city budget

September 8, 2020

Dallas City Council will vote on a new city budget September 23. TOP and In Defense of Black Lives Dallas are demanding that the budget invests less in policing and more in building up our communities with needed resources and services.

The chair of the city’s Public Safety Committee, Councilman Adam McGough of District 10 needs to hear from us that we need to divest from policing, and INVEST in our community!

If you’re a Dallas resident, call Councilman McGough at his office at 214-670-4068 to share why it matters to you that we #DefundDPD and invest more in the community.

For more information on how you can get involved in this campaign, call or text Carvell Bowens at 972-997-1026.

SIGN UP