The demonstration began Monday morning.
Around 10 a.m. the group filled Abbott’s office at the State Insurance Building at the Capitol complex, chanting and carrying signs that read “sanctuary for all” and “Senate Bill 4: Anti-immigrant and anti-democracy.” They called on Abbott — who made anti-‘sanctuary city’ legislation an emergency item for the session — to veto SB 4.
It was and lengthy protest and sit in. Some of the time was used for education. At one point, the Travis County Democratic Party reportedly sent the group a stack of pizzas. After the building closed at 5 PM, the demonstrators refused to leave and the media was forced out as the 24 people were arrested. DPS Staff sergeant Victor Taylor said the “suspects” were given repeated requests to leave the building before being arrested.
Here is a chilling video of the protestors being warned they would face felonies, if they didn’t leave. The demonstrations remained resistant and persistent — they didn’t budge.
The remaining protestors were charged with a Class B misdemeanors and were eventually released to a cheering crowd outside who had gathered in support.
Democratic lawmakers debated SB 4 for sixteen hours last week on the House floor calling it “racist, anti-immigrant and bad for public safety.”
The bill would deputize local police officers around the state to enforce federal immigration law, including asking people who have been detained — not arrested — to prove citizenship. It could also jail law enforcement officials who enact policies that prohibit assisting federal immigration officials. Critics have labeled SB 4 “show me your papers” legislation and compared it to Arizona’s infamous SB 1070.
The bill was also called “unconstitutional,” as well as immoral, by Barbara Hines, former director of the University of Texas School of Law Immigration Clinic. The now senior fellow at Emerson Collective says she expects the SB 4 will face federal law challenges for “infringing on the domain of the federal government, sanctioning unconstitutional detention and encouraging racial profiling.”
One of the protestors arrested was longtime civil and human rights activist Pastor Jim Rigby who sees the protests of resistance as one of the largest and most important movements of our time.
The morning after his arrest Pastor Rigby made a statement on his Facebook page. Here is an excerpts.
The movement that will save our nation is a grassroots people's movement based on the principles of solidarity, not on heroes at the top.
None of us forgot for a moment that the heartbeat of this movement is the undocumented immigrant community itself. Their courage, wisdom and love is our guiding light.
Councilman Casar (also arrested) is the son of Mexican immigrants. He added: “The civil rights movement, weren’t won because people were quiet and obeyed but because people of conscience stood up.”
Cheers to everyone in who marched, protested and who were arrested during the May Day Resistance. And here’s to every resisting protestor throughout history and throughout the world who stood up and stand up for human rights of all while facing imprisonment, brutality, prison and death.
H/T to Larry Dowell and Martha Hannah.
