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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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Decision hands GOP 30 of 38 congressional seats & shows the ongoing dismantling of the Voting Rights Act

Statement from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project: “The Supreme Court’s ruling to allow Texas Republicans to use this gerrymandered congressional map is an insult to Black and Latino Texans whose voting power has already been systematically targeted and diminished. Let’s be clear about what this ruling means: a map engineered to give Republicans control of 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats — up from the 25 they currently hold — will now shape our elections while a legal battle over racial discrimination drags on.

“This ruling hands Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton another win in their decade-long mission to entrench minority rule in Texas. From defending racially discriminatory maps, to fighting federal oversight of voting rights, Abbott and Paxton have abused every bit of state power to weaken the political voice of Black and Latino Texans.

“For years, Texas lawmakers have manipulated district lines to silence Black and Latino voters, even as these communities drive nearly all of the state’s population growth.

“This is what the erosion of the Voting Rights Act looks like. When federal courts refuse to stop racial discrimination that is staring them in the face, they’re telling Black and Latino Texans that their voices and their votes don’t matter. TOP rejects that premise, full stop. And we’re not backing down.

“TOP will continue organizing in every corner of this state because no partisan map, no matter how rigged, can erase the power of communities fighting for a Texas that works for all of us — regardless of age, race, faith, gender, or income.”

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The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP) in reaction to a federal three-judge panel blocking the new congressional district map passed by the Texas Legislature this summer:

“This judge panel saw the gerrymandered map for what it truly is: A racist Trump takeover to strip Black and Latino Texans of their political power.

“It cannot be overstated how a sitting president called on Greg Abbott to carry out this ridiculous mid-decade redistricting, and how our governor cowardly complied.

“Politicians shouldn’t pick which voters to heed and which to silence. We the people elect our officials in this country. 

“It’s up to us – community members, leaders, and voters – to take power back into our own hands to ensure that our elections allow the will of the people to prevail. 

“No matter the next court ruling, we will unapologetically keep fighting for fair representation, for our voices to be fully heard, and for a Texas that represents and works for ALL its people – regardless of age, race, faith, gender, or income.”

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Republican leaders ram through gerrymandered maps, proving once again that the system is doing exactly what it was built to do: protect white political power and erase Black and Latino Texans from decision-making.

Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is calling out Republican leaders in the Legislature for doing exactly what the system was built to do: using gerrymandered maps to strip Black and Latino Texans of political power. This is not a glitch; it is white supremacy operating as designed.

“Let’s be clear, this isn’t some accident or misstep. This is how white supremacy is supposed to work,” said Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of TOP. “These maps are a deliberate tool to keep Black and Latino Texans out of power. They’re not broken, they’re working exactly as intended.”

Black and Latino Texans account for nearly all of the state’s population growth over the past decade, yet Republican-drawn maps do not reflect this reality.

“When you see Republicans drawing maps to erase Black and Latino communities, don’t call it a failure, call it what it is: White supremacy doing exactly what it’s supposed to do,” Brown said. “They want us silent and invisible. But we know what’s going on, and we’re not going anywhere. We’ve survived worse, and we’re not shutting up or backing down now.”

TOP stressed that fair maps for all, regardless of Texans’ race, age, faith, gender, or income, are essential to ensuring representation on health care, housing, education, and other everyday issues that impact our lives.

“Politicians should not be picking their voters,” Brown said. “Our communities will continue to organize, mobilize, and demand fair representation; in the courts, in the streets, and at the ballot box. The power of Black and Latino Texans will not be erased.”

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About Texas Organizing Project:

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 is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP):

“Republican leaders are targeting a Black woman legislator, Rep. Nicole Collier, because she refuses to play along with their discriminatory power grab. Forcing her to accept a police escort to leave the chamber is about intimidation, surveillance, and silencing — and Black communities across Texas know exactly what that looks like.

“These redistricting maps were designed to strip Black and Latino voters of their political voice. Now Republicans are using the same heavy-handed tactics, recycled from segregationists’ playbook, against a Black elected official who dared to resist. Black leaders shouldn’t be treated like political prisoners. Police escorts for elected officials = surveillance and intimidation. #FreeRepCollier

“TOP stands with Rep. Collier. We refuse to accept attacks on Black communities, their leaders, and their right to fair representation. We will keep organizing until every Texan has a real voice in our democracy. #ProtectBlackVoices”

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About Texas Organizing Project:
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.

FORT WORTH, TX — What happened yesterday in Tarrant County was nothing short of a power grab. With a 3-2 vote, the Commissioners Court approved a redistricting map that strips Black and Latino communities in Precinct 2 of their voice and their power.

This mid-decade redraw, with no new census data and no public mandate, is a calculated act of racial gerrymandering. It tears apart neighborhoods that have consistently come together to elect candidates who reflect their values. It carves out economic hubs like Globe Life Field and downtown Fort Worth, gutting the heart of our political and economic strength.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just partisan politics, it’s systemic racism doing what it always has. But we see it, we name it, and we’ll fight back.

Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has openly admitted in the past that this redistricting is about securing Republican control, stating, “The mission is to get three Republican commissioners” on the court. This confession lays bare the true intent: to dilute the voting power of communities of color for partisan gain.

This isn’t just unethical; it’s illegal. The Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment were created to stop exactly this kind of racial discrimination. We won’t sit back while our communities are carved up and silenced.

We are fighting back.

“This map is an insult to the voters of Precinct 2. It’s a deliberate attempt to dilute the voices of Black and Latino communities who have fought hard to be heard. We will not be erased. I stand with our residents, with our movement, and with every legal and moral tool we have to fight this injustice.” — Commissioner Alisa Simmons, Tarrant County Precinct 2

The Texas Organizing Project stands in unwavering solidarity with Commissioner Alisa Simmons, Congressman Marc Veasey, and the hundreds of Tarrant County residents who’ve raised their voices against this injustice.

“When they silence our voices at the ballot box, they’re trying to silence our dignity, our demands, and our dreams,” said Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project. “This is a direct assault on the political power of Black and Latino communities who have fought too long and too hard to be pushed aside. But let me be clear, we are not going anywhere. Our fight for justice, fairness, and representation will continue with more resolve and more unity than ever before.”

This fight is far from over.

Our communities are resilient, and our movement is growing. We will not be deterred by racist tactics or political games. We will continue to fight for fair representation, for our voices to be heard, and for a Texas that truly represents all its people.

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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.

Texas voters are making history, and the collective we — the Texas Organizing Project and the communities we organize with — are driving this surge. From Bexar County to the DFW Metroplex, Texans are showing up, ready to take ownership of our future.

TOP Co-Executive Director Michelle Tremillo said: “Where we are today is proof that Texans are not backing down, and we’re even breaking records, defying expectations, and showing what’s possible when communities come together. From San Antonio to the suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth, the energy is real, and it’s just the start of early voting.”

Tremillo continued, “TOP knows that transforming Texas takes more than one election cycle, that’s why we’ve been on the ground 365 days a year, organizing, building infrastructure, and investing in the power of everyday people — no matter our age, race, faith, or gender. This turnout reflects years of commitment and hard work across our Black and Latino communities.”

TOP Co-Executive Director Brianna Brown added: “Texans know what’s at stake this election, and we are stepping up to transform our state. This moment belongs to Black, Latino, and working families and it’s just the beginning. Breaking records on the first day is exciting, but we need to keep this momentum going every single day through Election Day.”

• Statewide Record: Texas surpassed the 2020 record for first-day in-person voting by more than 130,000 votes, with 886,526 in-person votes cast on Day 1.
• Combined Vote Total: So far, 1,049,166 votes (in-person + mail-in) were reported for Day 1, approaching the 1.1 million record set in 2020, even with some counties yet to report.
• Harris County Turnout: Harris County has already seen over 242,000 votes cast over the first two days, maintaining high engagement despite the removal of 24-hour voting.
• Bexar County Turnout: Bexar County saw over 46,000 votes cast on the first day of early voting, indicating strong local engagement that aligns with broader statewide trends. The turnout momentum has continued, with Day 2 surpassing Day 1, highlighting increased enthusiasm compared to previous cycles
• Kamala Harris Rally: Vice President Kamala Harris will hold a rally in Houston this Friday, emphasizing the significance of Texas in the 2024 election, marking the first presidential-level rally this close to Election Day in Texas in 30 years.

TOP remains committed to supporting communities throughout the early voting period, providing the resources needed to sustain high turnout. Through phone-banking, door-knocking, and moving voters online, we are working together to make Texas a place where everyone can thrive.

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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.

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.