What is #BastaTexas?
#BastaTexas is an open-source framework that serves to unify, connect, and empower diverse, bottom-up efforts to push back against the right-wing, white supremacist and anti-immigrant agenda advancing in Texas and threatening to spread throughout the country.
It’s an online platform, a website, a hashtag, and a community of organizations working with the common purpose to lift up and replicate campaigns that work to turn the tide in Texas. The website is a work-in-progress, populated with events, tools, resources, and news to support community groups struggling for equality and respect.
Open-source means that we all own what comes out of #BastaTexas. And it’s a commitment that only you know best how to make the resistance flourish in your neighborhood. NDLON is currently anchoring the website and will provide some propuestas, but we’ll work to upload a diversity of local efforts.
What does endorsing mean?
Endorsing means:
- A commitment to push back against SB 4 and other attacks on immigrants, youth, workers, refugees, women, LGBTQI folks and people of color
- Alignment with an open-source framework that serves as a collective platform for all groups engaged.
- Support the call to action on September 1st and the September 2nd Unity March & Concert at the Texas Capitol
- A pledge to build a movement for the long-haul
Can we upload events and tools and art to the website?
Yes, that’s an important part of the effort – to share the good examples and tactics, whether this is art, media, events, or actions. Email your events and info via the contact form. You can also submit art via the submission form.
How can we participate in planning and building for September 1 and 2 events?
There will be a series of calls to provide general information about what is in the works, and that is a good time to share ideas and additional activities in the works. If you want to take the lead on specific pieces, let us know! You can share the FB event for September 2nd here.
For planning related to the September 1 youth rally and logistics on September 2nd you can contact Leslie from JOLT. For organizational and action roles, contact Raul or Salvador. And if you have a specific proposal for a speaker on September 2nd, let us know here.
Ultimately, September 1 and 2 will be what we all make it, so if you have specific actions or ideas, go for it! These will be many powerful events and moving pieces these days.
Additional organizations can endorse BastaTexas here. And folks that want to volunteer can sign-up here!
What support do organizations get from Basta Texas?
The purpose is to share information and resources, and many of the organizations supporting BastaTexas will be sharing tools constantly. But ultimately, groups get what they put in. The website currently includes 101 material on SB4, arts and media examples, and NDLON’s popular education material on building neighborhood defense committees, organizing locally, and carrying out MigraWatch trainings locally. More trainings are in the works.
As we build toward September 1 and 2, and beyond, each organization will do outreach and connect with folks as they see fit.
Is this only about SB4?
No. The white nationalist agenda didn’t begin with SB4, and it won’t end even if there is an injunction against the bill. The attacks we are responding to include the threats against DACA, the bathroom bill SB6, the militarization and dehumanization at the border, and the efforts to expand Trump’s deportation force (aka ICE). But SB4 is clearly a catalyst and must serve to galvanize communities to take action. This is a moment to build grassroots power to defend and advance inclusion and equality.
For more info, contact Salvador at sgsarmiento@ndlon.org.