News & Commentary
What it’s Like to Face a Deadly Pandemic Behind Bars
Four formerly incarcerated people — including one Texan and his family — share their stories about what it’s like to be incarcerated during the pandemic, while friends and family members are left helpless on the outside.
By Leila Rafei
Real Need for Change in Texas Gets Short Shrift in Gov. Abbott’s State of the State
This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott delivered his annual State of the State address, a state-mandated speech meant to inform the people of Texas about the governor’s legislative and governing priorities. With more than 37,000 Texans dead from COVID-19, notably Abbott’s agenda did not include a single item to address the pandemic for regular Texans. It offered nothing to help people get vaccines more quickly, support hospitals and schools, nor make nursing homes safer.
By Sarah Labowitz
Like My Illegal Voting Charge, Capitol Riot Shows Racism in Criminal Justice
This piece was originally published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
By Crystal Mason
The Texas Legislature in a Time of Turmoil and Transition
Today marks the opening of the 87th Texas Legislative Session — and it signals enormous opportunity and peril for civil liberties in Texas. With a tense national political climate, a pandemic devastating communities across Texas, and lingering racial unrest since the killing of George Floyd, this session will be one of the most challenging — and most important — we have seen in recent history.
By Matthew Simpson
Allowing COVID-19 to Spread Unchecked in Texas Jails Threatens the Safety of All Texans
In the past year, many of us have made difficult choices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from COVID-19. But throughout Texas county jails, incarcerated people have fewer options and depend on local leaders to enact precautions to keep them safe.
By Savannah Kumar
Three Ways to Act on International Migrants Day
Texas is no stranger to the issue of migration.
By Astrid Dominguez
Biden Must Remove Border Patrol from Border Communities to Restore Civil Rights and Liberties
Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas
The
By Shaw Drake
The Election is Over — Now Let’s Lead Freedom Forward
In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a dramatic shift in the ideological balance at the U.S. Supreme Court, placing abortion access, LGBTQ equality, and voting rights in peril. And threats to our democracy seem to be mounting.
By Rebecca L. Robertson
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