Take Action

Tell Steve Adler, Spencer Cronk, and Austin City Council to Divest from White Supremacy

Last week, after hours of testimony decrying racist violence by the Austin Police Department—including the murder of unarmed Michael Ramos and the maiming of at least two protesters with “less lethal” rounds of ammunition—our City Council still voted to increase APD funding.

If you’re confused about what just happened at the Austin City Council meeting, below is a recap from our staff member Bethany. In short, @austintexasgov just voted to give @Austin_Police hundreds of thousands of dollars.

— Grassroots Leadership (@Grassroots_News) June 5, 2020

Voted FOR increased APD funding

• Mayor Steve Adler
• District 3 – Sabino “Pio” Renteria
• District 5 – Ann Kitchen
• District 7 – Leslie Pool
• District 8 – Paige Ellis
• District 9 – Kathy Tovo
• District 10 – Alison Alter

Voted AGAINST increased APD funding:

• District 1 – Natasha Harper-Madison
• District 2 – Delia Garza
• District 4 – Greg Casar
• District 6 – Jimmy Flannigan

Find your City Council district by entering your address here or by looking at the map here.

Then:

Sign and send this petition to City Leadership from UWSA

Read Mayor Adler’s statement

One more way to tell the City to divest from APD

40% of our budget goes toward policing. The City has extended its 2021 budget survey, where Austin residents have a voice in how we allocate the city budget. Imagine a city in which that money was invested back into our community.

The different between this scene and the earlier rally at Huston-Tillotson is astonishing. Who are they serving? Who are they protecting? https://t.co/NO438wnRuV

— Indivisible Austin (@indivisibleATX) June 8, 2020

Take the survey before July 1:
CITY OF AUSTIN | FY 2021 City Budget Feedback

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Congress Critter of the Week: Chip Roy, Fascist

“The opposite of ‘Black Lives Matter’ is not ‘All Lives Matter.’ The opposite of ‘Black Lives Matter’ is ‘Black Lives Don’t Matter.’” 

—As heard on the “Oh This World” podcast

Likewise, the opposite of antifascist is pro-fascist—or, just “fascist.” When TX21 Indivisible accurately called Chip Roy a fascist, his feelings got hurt. He screamed on Twitter about “ANTIFA” (caps his) and doubled down on his fascism:

In which @TX21Indivisible chooses ANTIFA & violence over peace, property, & life… Chooses looting, & destruction crushing small (often minority owned) businesses & defacing our city, state, & nation over law & order. Without order there cannot be Liberty or Justice. #EndRiots https://t.co/3JZMW5LADm

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) June 2, 2020

“Fascism,” from Merriam-Webster

• a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
• a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

Words matter, and TX21 Indivisible chose the right word to describe Rep. Roy’s cheering for “forcible suppression of opposition” and his “tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control.”

Chip Roy is a fascist.

Read: “Antifa” is an obvious excuse to teargas Trump’s enemies (Los Angeles Times)

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Virtual Events

View all Texas Democractic Party virtual phone banks here

Monday, June 8

Help new Texans register to vote

Beto O’Rourke’s Powered by People organization is holding virtual phone banks to call new Texans to ensure they register to vote.

Register for the June 8 phone bank

Find another phone bank or host your own

Wednesday, June 10

A Reckoning: An Appeal to White America

6:30 p.m. on Zoom

This is not the time for outrage, anger and social media hysteria that is not followed by action. We want to continue to see our brothers and sisters of color join us in the work we do, but this plea is to White America that continues to perpetuate a system of fear, violence and disgust. Join us as we hear from the Austin Justice Coalition’s Executive Director Chas Moore deliver pointed words about how we must be forward

RSVP for A Reckoning: An Appeal to White America

Thursday, June 11

Q&A with Jared Yates Sexton

7 p.m. on Facebook Live. Indivisible Houston hosts author, political analyst, & host of The Muckrake podcast Jared Yates Sexton. Join to discuss an equitable recovery from Covid-19, the role of the press & restoring our democracy.

RSVP on Facebook

Saturday, June 13

Unlearning Circle: Liberal White Women & the Violence of White Supremacy

10 a.m. on Facebook Live, hosted by Undoing White Supremacy Austin (UWSA). UWSA’s Unlearning Circles provide an opportunity for primarily white identifying people to come and explore white supremacy culture and our role and responsibilities in undoing racism. UWSA’s June Unlearning Circle focuses on liberal white women’s role in perpetuating the violence of White Supremacy especially on Black bodies. White people have imagined danger into the bodies of Black people, when the inverse is actually true.

RSVP for the Unlearning Circle

Monday, June 15

Last day to register to vote in the July 14 runoff elections. (Early voting starts June 29.)

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Local Protest & COVID-19 Resources

Austin Protests

GoFund me for Mike Ramos

The mother of Mike Ramos, who was shot to death by APD in April, is asking for donations. Read the letter sent to City Manager Spencer Cronk after Ramos’s killing.

GoFundMe for Saraneka “Nemo” Martin

Nemo was shot with projectiles by APD in her abdomen and in her back while pregnant

Levi Ayala Went to an Austin Protest to Watch History and Instead Became a Tragic Part of It (Texas Monthly)

GoFundMe for Brad Levi Ayala

APD shot Brad Levi Ayala in the head at an Austin protest on May 30,2020.

Opinion: His name is Justin Howell (The Batt)

GoFundMe for Justin Howell

Justin Howell was critically injured by Austin Police during protests Sunday, May 31st

GoFundMe for Anthony Evans

Supports medical costs for Anthony Evans was shot in the face with a “bean bag” bullet by APD while protesting

Austin Emergency Legal Fund

Support Black-owned businesses (List on KVUE website)

Austin City Council Contact Information

More Texas-wide protest resources, donations, & actions 

Regularly updated list of Austin resources (Indivisible Austin)

COVID-19

‘Like we don’t exist’: Black lawmakers say their pleas about COVID-19’s impact have been ignored

How to protect yourself while protesting during the coronavirus pandemic (CNET)

COVID-19 Information (City of Austin)

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information (Travis County)

City of Austin Utility Bill Relief

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Your moment of Zen

i love little regional quirks like how everyone in austin has the same handwriting ☺️ the world is such an interesting place https://t.co/Cr91Gt4Mua

— thomas violence (@thomas_violence) June 7, 2020