The following statement is from Michelle Tremillo, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in reaction to ProPublica’s reporting on Texas woman Josseli Barnica dying after a miscarriage, shedding more light on the fatal, real-world consequences of anti-abortion laws in our state: 

“Gov. Abbott and Texas Republicans’ extreme anti-abortion laws are killing everyday Texans.

“Words alone cannot fully convey how devastating and infuriating it is to learn of the preventable death of Josseli Barnica, a 28-year-old Latina living in Houston.

“This tragedy further puts into focus Republicans’ vicious war against our reproductive freedoms. Their dismantling of Roe v. Wade and embrace of white supremacy are not coincidental; they’re intrinsically linked. Punitive restrictions on abortion already disproportionately impact communities of color as a result of systemic racism – most notably Black and Latino.

“The Texas GOP is desperate to control every aspect of Texans’ lives – from our bodily autonomy to our ability to vote. One thing’s for sure: This election, TOP is fighting for a future where ALL Texans — no matter their age, race, faith, gender, or preferred language — have their fundamental rights upheld.”

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

“Learning of Josseli’s heart-wrenching passing only reaffirms our commitment to fighting back against the criminalization of abortion and bodily autonomy in our state. It’s critical to remember that even before the fall of Roe, Texas Republicans enacted a six-week abortion ban, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

“In 2019, about 70% of abortions in Texas were obtained by women of color, highlighting how access to abortion is undoubtedly an issue that matters to Black and Latino communities.

“At TOP, we are unapologetic about the core of our fights fundamentally being about the pursuit of racial justice. The fight for healthcare broadly and abortion access specifically IS a fight for racial justice.

“We as Texans know our worth, and no matter who we are or where we live, we all deserve elected leaders who respect our personal freedoms and don’t try to regulate our bodies. As TOP gets out the vote across our state, we are hitting this message hard, because WE determine our own futures, not out-of-touch politicians like Gov. Abbott.”

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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.

Solid Start Towards Equitable Healthcare, but the Fight for Full Medicaid Expansion in Texas Continues

Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is proud to have played a role in securing a healthcare legislative victory for Texas families. Starting tomorrow, September 1, 2023, new mothers will benefit from extended Medicaid coverage for a full year after childbirth. This policy change marks a huge step forward in the fight for equitable healthcare access in Texas, particularly for Black mothers who have been hit hardest by the maternal health crisis. 

TOP Board Member Dr. Doshie Piper shared, “Extending Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum will save lives and improve health outcomes for both mothers and their children. TOP, along with its members and allies, has been at the forefront of this fight, and we are thrilled to see our hard organizing work translate into meaningful policy change.” 

Dr. Piper continued, “The significance of this policy change is especially impactful for Black mothers, who face a maternal mortality rate in Texas that is twice as high as that of white women. The root causes of this crisis are deeply entrenched in systemic inequalities, including racial bias in healthcare and inadequate access to culturally competent care providers.”

TOP SW Healthcare Organizer Ivory Howard added, “Every Texan deserves access to affordable healthcare—regardless of age, race, gender, or income level. Together, we need to continue to push for Texas to expand Medicaid and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate these health disparities.” 

TOP Co-Executive Director Brianna Brown emphasized that, “We’re proud of this Medicaid policy win but there is still a long road ahead of us to transform Texas into a state where the health of all its communities, particularly Black and Latino neighborhoods, is paramount. 

This legislation comes at a pivotal moment with the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency ending, which has already resulted in half a million Texans being kicked off Medicaid coverage. Previously, Medicaid benefits were limited to just 60 days postpartum. This extension aims to prevent maternal deaths and address health issues identified during pregnancy, especially crucial given that Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in Texas.

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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP)

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.

The Fight Continues For Equitable Healthcare and Full Medicaid Expansion

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Co-Executive Director on HB 12 being signed into law today: 

“TOP is proud to have been a champion for HB 12, a bill extending Medicaid health coverage for mothers up to a year after childbirth. This crucial legislation, fought for tirelessly by countless Texans, will positively affect all mothers across the state, particularly Black women. The passage of HB 12 is a testament to our collective organizing power, however the fight for healthcare justice in Texas is far from over.

“Black mothers face pregnancy-related complications at over triple the rate of their white counterparts, a health disparity that HB 12 aims to mitigate. While the bill is a significant achievement, the battle for a more equitable healthcare system, especially for Black and Latino communities, continues. 

“This recent legislative session further highlighted the existing critical gaps in Texas healthcare policy. It’s shameful our legislature again failed to pass or even hold a hearing on Medicaid expansion, leaving an estimated 1.4 million uninsured low-income Texans, primarily Black and Latino, without vital healthcare access.

“TOP believes healthcare is a human right, and is committed to continuing to fight for just healthcare access, full implementation of HB 12, and holding state leaders accountable for their failure to expand Medicaid. The journey toward healthcare justice remains a priority for TOP, and our goal remains clear ― a Texas where all people, regardless of their race, background, or income, have access to the healthcare they need and deserve.”

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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.

The following statement was sent out June 16, 2023.

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Co-Executive Director, in response to the Supreme Court ruling overturning the landmark case and legal precedent of Roe v. Wade:

“Today, our nation’s right-wing political machine, fueled by lies and a desire to continue the sinister, violent legacy of white supremacy, stripped Americans of their fundamental right to safe and legal abortion – a ruthless crusade nearly 50 years in the making. 

“Words alone cannot fully convey the atrociousness of this partisan opinion, the ways in which it jeopardizes countless other inherent personal freedoms, and the level of harm it will inflict on our nation’s marginalized communities – notably Black and Latino. 

“This methodical undermining of our fundamental rights is par for the course for this Supreme Court. It is this right-wing court that has shattered protections in the Voting Rights Act and has now gutted rights established by Miranda v. Arizona.

“It is no coincidence whatsoever that right-wing extremists are hell-bent on banning us from making decisions for ourselves, literally not allowing us as human beings to have the power to determine our own futures. The fight for healthcare broadly, and abortion access specifically, IS a fight for racial justice.

“In his absurd majority draft opinion drenched in cynicism, Justice Alito states “Women are not without electoral or political power” – a twisted and insulting invitation for us to re-secure these human rights ourselves at the state legislative level, since our reactionary-ruled Supreme Court will not recognize them.

“We fully intend to turn Alito’s backhanded dare on its head, and fight tooth and nail with allies for however long is necessary to ensure that all – no matter our race, income level, or ZIP Code – have access to the abortion care we all deserve. 

“We will leave no stone unturned in using this dare as a catalyst for bold, people-powered transformation. Our presence will be felt in the streets, and our rage will be channeled at the ballot box as we will stop at nothing to win, because future generations deserve so much more than regressive policies holding us back from living the full, happy lives we all have a right to live.”

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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. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

This statement was sent out June 24, 2022.