[Austin Human Rights Day News Conference on December 4, 2025.]
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PROUD TO SERVE AS AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM, REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE TO CITY HALL FOR AN EARLY CELEBRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
TODAY I STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, LANE AND SIEGEL, AS WELL AS OUR HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS TO AFFIRM OUR SHARED HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. THE US HAS RATIFIED THREE HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
YET UNDER THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE FELT THE WRATH OF UNPRECEDENTED SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TARGETING OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AS WELL AS FREQUENT ATTACKS ON OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, ON OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
EVERY DAY WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE KIDNAPPED FROM THEIR HOMES, PERSECUTED FOR RECEIVING OR PROVIDING ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE, AND TARGETED FOR THOSE FOR WHO THEY LOVE AND HOW THEY IDENTIFY, AS WELL AS BEING CRIMINALIZED FOR BEING POOR.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WITHOUT REMORSE, THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION SAID THEY WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ITS UPCOMING UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW, A UNITED NATIONS PROCESS TO REVIEW OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS TO RE TO REVIEW EACH OTHER'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS.
HERE IN AUSTIN, WE REFUSE TO IDLY STAND BY ON THIS DECISION, WE WILL NOT BE SILENT, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY.
ON DECEMBER 10TH, IN JUST A FEW DAYS, REPRESENTATIVE MCMA WILLIAMS WILL BE PRESENTING A RESOLUTION ON CAPITOL HILL, RECOGNIZING HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, AND SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZING THAT ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE AND A HUMAN RIGHT AS LOCAL LAWMAKERS.
WE TOO HAVE A DUTY UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES, AND WE JOIN REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, AS WELL AS NINE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING AND DEFENDING OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO CALLS AUSTIN HOME.
WITH THAT, I WILL NOW WELCOME AND INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE.
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE, UH, REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX, AND I STAND BEFORE YOU BECAUSE AS A CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DELIVER EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT CITY SERVICES, AND THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF WHAT WE DO.
HOWEVER, IF WE AS A CITY DO NOT STAND UP TO PROTECT OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, WE REALLY HAVE NOTHING AS A CITY.
UM, IF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK AND VISIT AND ARE INSIDE OUR CITY DO NOT FEEL FREE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN THE WAYS THAT ARE GUARANTEED IN OUR CONSTITUTION, WE, I BELIEVE, HAVE AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE FAILED OUR CITY.
AND SO I'M SO PLEASED TO BE HERE.
I THANK MAYOR, THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR ORGANIZING THIS, BRINGING IT FORWARD, AND EVERYONE WHO'S JOINING US HERE TODAY, UM, AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO STANDING UP FOR THESE RIGHTS, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ATTACKS COME FOR THEM.
AND WHO IS NEXT? UM, BACK TO THE MAYOR, PRO TEM.
UM, NEXT WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE SIEGEL, REPRESENTING DISTRICT SEVEN.
WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HONORING THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT DAY.
UM, SOME OF YOU KNOW MY BACKGROUND IS AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER, AND I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL TO BECOME A HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER.
UH, IT TURNS OUT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES AS A HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHY WE HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND, AND NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS HISTORY, BUT THE, THE FORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WAS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO WORLD WAR II AND THE THREATS OF FASCISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM AND FRANKLY, NAZI GERMANY, RIGHT? THE, IF YOU READ THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, IT STARTS OUT WITH, YOU KNOW, BASIC PROTECTIONS AGAINST, UH, SLAVERY, AGAINST GENOCIDE, AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.
AND IT WAS A PART OF THIS MANTRA IN THE 1940S POST WORLD WAR II THAT WE SHOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE TO EXPERIENCE GENOCIDE.
THAT WE SHOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE THESE, UH, DISGUSTING ATTACKS THAT RESULT IN THE LOSS OF MILLIONS OF LIVES.
AND I FIND A LOT OF INSPIRATION IN THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A RIGHT TO FOOD.
THERE'S A RIGHT TO HOUSING, THERE'S A RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE.
UH, THERE'S A RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM DIS DISCRIMINATION.
THERE'S A RIGHT TO GOOD EMPLOYMENT.
UM, AND I THINK IN THIS MOMENT, IN 2025, THE THE GREATEST THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS IS THE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH IN THE HANDS OF A VERY FEW, UH, BILLIONAIRE CLASS IN, IN THIS WORLD.
AND BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS THAT ARE GUARANTEED, UH, THESE PROBLEMS THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE GUARANTEE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE ONLY REASON WE DON'T HAVE THEM IS NOT BECAUSE THERE AREN'T SUFFICIENT RESOURCES.
WE KNOW THERE'S ENOUGH, UH, FOOD
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IN THE WORLD FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A FULL STOMACH.WE KNOW THERE'S ENOUGH RESOURCES TO BUILD HOUSING FOR EVERYONE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS COUNTRY AND EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD COULD PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL, BUT WE DON'T.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF A POLICY CHOICE, THAT THERE'S A CLASS OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PROFIT FROM OUR HEALTHCARE, THAT WANT TO PROFIT FROM OUR HOUSING.
ONE REASON IN THE UNITED STATES WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING IS BECAUSE A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM CALLED BLACKROCK BOUGHT UP HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PARCELS OF HOUSING TO RAISE THE PRICE.
AND SO MOVING FORWARD, IF WE REALLY WANNA GUARANTEE HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL, WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH, WHICH IS A DIRECT THREAT TO DEMOCRACY AND DIRECT THREAT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A BETTER FUTURE WHERE ALL OF US CAN LIVE WITH PEACE AND DIGNITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
UH, SO I WANNA THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR RECOGNIZING HUMAN RIGHTS DAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FIGHT AHEAD.
SO NOW I WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO NAOMI PRATT WITH I PASS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 10TH, 1948, THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, ESTABLISHING UNIVERSAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, LANGUAGE, POLITICAL OPINION, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR OTHER STATUS.
AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES HAS RATIFIED AND IS BOUND BY THREE HU INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES TO BE UPHELD AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL AS THEY'RE CONSIDERED THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND UNDER CLAUSE TWO OF ARTICLE SIX OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
AND WHEREAS SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES FROM MASS AND INHUMANE DETENTION AND DEPORTATION, THE FORCED LABOR OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED, THE DISSEMINATION OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, EXPANSION OF SURVEILLANCE, AND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND US COMPLICITY AND GLOBE COMPLICITY AND GLOBAL CONFLICTS REPRESENT GRAVE ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE AUGUST 27TH, ON AUGUST 27TH, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EVADE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR GRAVE ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE SENT A LETTER TO THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON HUMAN RIGHTS, STATING THAT THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ITS UPCOMING UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW, A UNITED NATIONS PROCESS FOR WHICH COUNTRIES REVIEW EACH OTHER'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS.
AND WHEREAS ON OCTO, ON NOVEMBER 7TH, THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADOPTED A DECISION AFTER THE UNITED STATES NON-PARTICIPATION IN WHICH IT CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES TO RESUME ITS COOPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW AND POSTPONED IT TO NOVEMBER, 2026, WHILE LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY FOR IT TO BE SCHEDULED SOONER.
WHEREAS MANY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY HAVE SYSTEMICALLY NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF WHAT CONSTITUTES THEIR UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS.
UNDER THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE US HAS RATIFIED THREE HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES, WHICH HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY.
AND WHEREAS THIS CITY COMMITS TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN OUR OWN LOCAL, IN OUR OWN LOCALITY IN OUR COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD.
NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES MAYOR PRO TEM, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS CRYSTAL LANE AND MIKE SIEGEL ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 10TH, 2025 AS HUMAN RIGHTS STAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND THEN, YES, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU MAYO PERAM, UH, FUENTES AND THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR YOUR BOLD AND ONGOING SUPPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WE AT IPAS ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TO ACCOMPANY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS THEY NAME HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2025, WHICH IS ALSO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
I AM A PROUD TEXAN AND I LEAD THE WORK FOR THE IPAS US PROGRAM HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
IPAS IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ADVANCING ABORTION ACCESS ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
WE AT IPAS KNOW THAT ABORTION IS A HUMAN RIGHT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN TEXAS, UM, THE STATE HAS CONTINUOUSLY ERODED ACCESS TO ABORTION AND IS SEEKING TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ABORTIONS AND THOSE THAT HELP FELLOW TEXANS HAVE AND SEEK ABORTION CARE.
WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS RATIFIED THREE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UPHELD AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL.
THESE TREATIES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE LAW OF THE LAND UNDER OUR US CONSTITUTION.
HOWEVER, WITH THEIR ONGOING ATTACKS ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT IS INFRINGING UPON OUR PROTECTED HUMAN RIGHTS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO UPHOLD.
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IN TEXAS, WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE, THEIR GENDER, THEIR AGE, SEXUALITY, THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, THEIR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, OR THEIR ECONOMIC STANDING, HAVE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR CITIES ACROSS TEXAS TO EXPLICITLY NAME THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THEIR CITIZENS.
TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE MANY PARTNERS, UH, HERE TODAY, WE WANNA ENSURE THAT PEOPLE IN TEXAS KNOW THAT THEY, UM, HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE EXERCISING AND THOSE RIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE INTERFERED WITH FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
WE AT I IPAS WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ABORTION ACCESS IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE US BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ABORTION IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE LUCY
I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JANE DUE PROCESS.
AN ORGANIZATION IN AUSTIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING TEXAS TEENS HAVE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL BIRTH CONTROL AND ABORTION CARE.
THROUGH ADVOCACY, INFORMATION SHARING AND FUNDING SUPPORT.
JANE DUE PROCESS SEES THE DIRECT IMPACT OF TEXAS'S ABORTION BAN EVERY DAY IN OUR WORK, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, TRAVELING FOR LEGAL ABORTION CARE.
IN THE TIME SINCE ROE VERSUS WADE WAS OVERTURNED, WE HAVE HELPED OVER 300 YOUNG PEOPLE TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR NECESSARY ABORTION CARE.
WE FEEL THAT THOUSANDS OF CALLS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, AFRAID OF CRIMINALIZATION AND UNSURE WHERE TO GO.
WE KNOW THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS DOES NOT STAY IN TEXAS.
WE ARE THE TESTING GROUND FOR SOME OF THE CRUELEST ABORTION BANS IN THE COUNTRY WITH A PATERNAL DEATH AND SEPSIS RATE THAT IS ONLY INCREASING DUE TO THIS REALITY BY PUBLICLY AFFIRMING THAT ABORTION IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND OUR INCREDIBLE CHAMPIONS THEREOF LET YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE WITHOUT SHAME, STIGMA, OR LACK OF LEGAL CARE AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
JANES DUE PROCESS IS GUIDED BY THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FRAMEWORK, A FRAMEWORK CREATED BY BLACK WOMEN IN 1994 AND ROOTED IN HUMAN RIGHTS THAT DEMAND EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL ONE'S OWN REPRODUCTION AND SEXUALITY.
THIS RESOLUTION HONORS THAT LEGACY.
NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED THE HUMAN RIGHT TO BUILD THEIR FAMILIES WHEN AND HOW THEY SEE FIT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE, OR A LACK OF RESOURCES.
WE APPLAUD THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR TAKING THIS STANCE AND WE HOPE TO SEE OTHER TEXAS CITIES FOLLOW SUIT.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE BRIDGET BANDIT, L-G-B-T-Q, QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONER.
AS I SAT DOWN TO THINK OF WHAT I WOULD SAY HERE TODAY, I COULDN'T HELP BUT CONSIDER HOW I EVEN GOT HERE IN FULL DRAG AT CITY HALL ON A THURSDAY MORNING TO TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
BUT I STAND HERE AS A GENDER NON-CONFORMING AND NON-BINARY DRAG QUEEN IN A PUBLIC BUILDING THAT CAN NOW BE FINED.
IF SOMEONE THINKS I AM USING THE WRONG RESTROOM AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL BE QUESTIONED NO MATTER WHICH RESTROOM I GO TO AND THAT I AM NOT COMPLETELY SAFE IN EITHER ONE.
AND ISN'T THAT A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE RESTROOM WITHOUT HEAR FEAR OF HARASSMENT? JUST ONE OF THE MANY WE'VE SEEN UNDER ATTACK BY OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY AND GLOBALLY.
THIS YEAR, THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY THE TRANS COMMUNITY, HAS FACED INCREASING DISCRIMINATION THREATS AND VIOLENCE BETWEEN MAY, 2024 AND MAY, 2025.
GLAD TRACK TO 932 ANTI L-G-B-T-Q INCIDENTS.
IN THE UNITED STATES, 52% OF THE INCIDENTS WERE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING PEOPLE.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN REPORTS THAT SINCE 20 13, 80 4% OF TRANS AND GENDER EXPANSIVE VICTIMS OF FATAL VIOLENCE WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
61% WERE BLACK, BLACK TRANS WOMEN.
HERE IN AUSTIN THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, WE SAW A VIDEO OF A TRANS WOMAN'S FACE SLAMMED INTO THE THE GROUND BY A PD AND A MURDERED TRANS WOMAN DEAD NAMED AND MISGENDERED BY A PD WHEN IDENTIFIED EVEN UPON CORRECTION.
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OF COLOR.I ASK, WHERE'S THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR THESE WOMEN? IF WE WISH TO PRIDE OURSELVES IN UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS AS A CITY, WE MUST HOLD ALL THOSE WHO CAUSE HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABLE.
WE MUST FIGHT AGAINST THE STATE ATTACKS THAT CALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF OUR SYMBOLS OF PRIDE AND VISIBILITY.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT SUPPORTS THAT SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY UNAPOLOGETICALLY, ESPECIALLY TRANS PEOPLE, TRANS KIDS, TRANS ATHLETES, TRANS PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO USE THE BATHROOM, L-G-B-T-Q.
PEOPLE DESERVE TO NOT ONLY BE RESPECTED AS EVERYONE SHOULD, BUT TO BE SEEN AND CELEBRATED.
WE DESERVE TO LOVE WHO WE LOVE, BE WHO WE ARE, AND EXPRESS OURSELVES AS WE WISH.
LGBTQIA A PLUS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND UNTIL EVERY SINGLE LGBTQ PLUS PERSON IS SAFE, SUPPORTED AND CELEBRATED, THE WORK MUST CONTINUE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO UPLIFT AND SUPPORT QUEER VOICES.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE CAROLINE WILLIAMS. CAROLYN WILLIAMS WITH VOCAL TEXAS
MY NAME IS CAROLYN WILLIAMS AND I AM A PROUD VOCAL TEXAS LEADER.
I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING ON A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
I AM A BLACK WOMAN SURVIVING HIV FOR 26 YEARS, A MEMBER OF THE L-G-B-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND SOMEONE AFFECTED BY THE DRUG WAR.
WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT CREATES A LOT OF STIGMA AGAINST THESE PARTS OF MY LIFE, VOCAL TEXAS HAS BEEN A CATALYST IN HELPING ME FIGHT THAT STIGMA.
WHEN I JOINED VOCAL TEXAS, I WAS HOMELESS.
MY SON HAD JUST DIED FROM A FENTANYL OVERDOSE AND I WAS REALLY IN A DARK PLACE.
NOW I HAVE A PLATFORM TO TELL MY STORY AND TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO END HOMELESSNESS, MASS INCARCERATION, HIV, AND AIDS AGENT OVERDOSE AND THE DRUG WAR.
WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING CUTS ON MEDICAID, MEDICARE, SNAP, HIV, AIDS, AND HOUSING FUNDING.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN SUCH HATE CRIMES IN THIS IN DECADES.
WITH THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AT THE STATE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE ARE SEEING SOME BAD THINGS.
BLACK PEOPLE ARE A VICTIM OF HATE CRIMES, CONSTANTLY.
POLICE AND ICE OFFICERS VIOLENCE AS ASTRONOMICAL, UNDOCUMENTED FOR FOLKS ARE SCARED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.
THIS IS AN AWFUL AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE ALL DESERVE RIGHTS TO HOUSING, FOOD, HEALTHCARE, AND NOT ONLY HAVE LIVE, HAVE TO LIVE, BUT TO THRIVE.
AND WE WON'T STOP UNTIL EVERYONE IS FREE ON THIS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, HUMAN RIGHTS PROCLAMATION DAY, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR SISTER, CHAPTERS VOCAL TEXAS, VOCAL NEW YORK, VOCAL KENTUCKY, AND VOCAL.
SO ANYWAY, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, TO SPEAK, TO HAVE THE LIGHT AND POSITIVELY IS SO NEEDED RIGHT NOW IN THIS DARK TIMES.
WE NEED THESE TYPES OF CELEBRATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CARE FOR EACH OTHER AMONGST THE CUTS, BIGOTRY AND HATE.
AND TODAY I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE, TO BE WITH YOU ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND TO CLOSE THIS OUT, WE WILL HAVE, UH, MS. ALICIA PEREZ.
WE'LL HAVE ALICIA PEREZ HODGE WITH HISPANIC, AUSTIN BUSINESS LEADERS ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS WITH LULAC.
MY NAME IS ALICIA PEREZ HODGE, AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE, UH, HISPANIC ADVOCATES AND BUSINESS LEADERS OF AUSTIN AND ALSO THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, WHO IS, WHICH IS THE LARGEST AND OLDEST, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION FOR LATINOS IN THE COUNTRY.
I GREW UP IN A TIME WHEN WE HAD, UH, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY AND, UH, LYNDON JOHNSON AS PRESIDENTS.
WE HAD, UM, UH, ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION.
UH, WE HAD THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, WE HAD ALL THOSE THINGS.
I AM PART OF LYNDON JOHNSON'S GREAT SOCIETY TODAY.
I'M IN TEARS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO CHOOSES TO BE LAWLESS, WHO CHOOSES TO PROMOTE HATE,
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WHO HAS, UH, INGRAINED FEAR IN PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME.THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THOSE CIVIL RIGHTS, BUT THE VERY BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, ARE RESPECTED AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT TO VIOLATE THOSE HUMAN RIGHTS IS A CRIME.
IT IS NOT ONLY A CRIME IN TERMS OF BREAKING A LAW.
IT IS A CRIME AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST CHRISTIANITY.
AND PLEASE ACCEPT IT AS A TRUTH BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT IS.
I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES OF THE LAW LAWLESSNESS AND HOW CRUEL, UH, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS.
A YOUNG WOMAN, ANNA, ANNIE LOPEZ, UH, OSA, UH, IS GOING TO COLLEGE IN NEW ENGLAND.
YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY DAMN GOOD TO GET INTO SOME OF THOSE, THOSE COLLEGES.
SHE WANTED TO FLY HOME, UH, TO BE WITH HER PARENTS.
I SAW THE INTERVIEW THIS MORNING.
SHE SAYS THEY PUT HER IN A CELL, NO BED, NO BED, NO UH UH, NO COMFORTS, NOTHING.
LIKE IF SHE WAS AN ANIMAL, THEY PUT HER, YOU KNOW, IN A CELL.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME.
AND PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.
THEY ARE HUNTING THEM LIKE ANIMALS.
THAT IS AGAINST NOT ONLY THE, THE LAW OF HUMANITY, BUT THE LAW OF GOD AND WHAT IS RIGHTEOUS IN WHAT WE LEARNED AS CHILDREN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO SAY THAT NO ONE IS A CHILD OF A LESSER GOD.
AND HUMANS HAVE DIGNITY, INHERENT DIGNITY, AND THEY SHOULD BE TREATED THAT WAY.
AND WE HAVE LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THOSE LAWS NEED TO BE OBEYED.
THIS YOUNG WOMAN WAS DEPORTED TO HONDURAS.
SHE HAD BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES AND SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS DEPORTED THERE JUST AGAINST THE ORDERS OF A JUDGE.
AGAIN, THEY BREAK THE LAW LEFT AND RIGHT.
WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THAT IS CRIMINAL.
AND WE ALREADY KNOW THERE'S A FELON IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND HE CONTINUES TO BREAK THE LAW, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.
SO I ASK ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US IN STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT IN SUNDAY AND IN, UH, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND ALSO IN SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL.
I THINK EVERYONE WENT TO TO THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND SAY, NO, THIS IS NOT AMERICAN.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THOSE PEOPLE DIED FOR IN VIETNAM AND IN WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THAT BATTLE AGAINST THE FASCISM AND AGAINST THE CRUELTY OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
AND AGAIN, I JUST AS YOU COULD HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY, ALL REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE VIOLATIONS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN OUR COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHY IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO STAND UP AND TO SHARE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US AS A CITY TO VALUE HUMAN RIGHTS AND BASIC DIGNITY.
AND SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES HERE WITH OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IS RECOGNIZED AND THAT WE AFFIRM EVERYTHING THAT IT STANDS FOR.