Texas Civil Rights Review

Category: Uncategorized

  • Call Out: Williamson Commissioners to Discuss Hutto Aug. 14

    email from Jay Johnson Castro, Sr.

    Here’s a call for grassroots and the media support…

    Sherry Dana, who has done a lot of research on the contracts between ICE, CCA and the Williamson County Commissioners has shared the following information about this coming County Commissioners meeting where the fate of the innocent children imprisoned there is subject to their discretion. (See the thread and agenda below)

    The Commissioners Court needs advocates of freeing the children. The Commissioners are very secret about their actions…so some of the local folks fighting for the freedom of the children will be present to make sure that the children have a voice. They would like your help and support.

    Media presence will be invaluable. These decision makers need to know that their moves are being monitored. And…the public needs to know what is being done…and what is being done in secret. We trust that the media will help keep the information going to the public.

    Please share this with you respective networks…

    In solidarity…

    Jay

    — Original Message —-
    Subject: Tuesday, August 14 Williamson County Commissioners Meeting
    From: Sherry J. Dana
    To: Jay J. Johnson-Castro, Sr.

    Jay,

    Contracts with ICE and CCA concerning T. Don Hutto are on the August 14th Williamson County commissioners’ court agenda (see below). Could you get out the word that we need people to attend the meeting and speak against the contracts? I don’t know if the commissioners plan to take action this time but I would hate for the press to say no one objected (to whatever the hell they’re planning on doing.)

    We have been insisting on speaking on Item 2 (shortly after the meeting starts at 9:30) since on several occasions they have not taken up the agenda item later in the meeting, leaving us with no opportunity to speak. They have also limited us to 5 speakers but last week they allowed everyone there to speak against the landfill so I think we can demand the same treatment. The landfill protesters also got some press because of the size of the crowd.

    I know Tuesday mornings are difficult but we would like to see as many people there as possible.

    Thanks,
    Sherry

    * * *

    NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
    WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S COURT
    AUGUST 14TH, 2007

    The Commissioner’s Court of Williamson County, Texas will meet in special session on Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in the Justice of the Peace, Pct. #3 Courtroom, 301 S.E. Inner Loop, in Georgetown, Texas to consider the following items:

    2. Citizen comments. Except when public hearings are scheduled for later in the meeting, this will be the only opportunity for citizen input. The Court invites comments on any matter affecting the county, whether on the Agenda or not. Speakers should limit their comments to two minutes. Note that the members of the Court may not comment at the meeting about matters that are not on the agenda.

    46. Discuss contractual relationships expressed in both the Inter-Governmental Service Agreement between the United States Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Williamson County, Texas and in the operation Agreement between Williamson County, Texas and Corrections Corporation of America concerning the T. Don Hutto Residential Facility (EXECUTIVE SESSION as per VTCA Govt. Code sec. 551.071 consultation with attorney.)

    50. Discuss and take appropriate action on contractual relationships expressed in both the Inter-Governmental Service Agreement between the United States Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Williamson County, Texas and in the operation Agreement between Williamson County, Texas and Corrections Corporation of America concerning the T. Don Hutto Residential Facility.

    Note: Read Peter Dana’s report from the August 7 meeting of the William County Commissioners Court–gm

  • Archive: Shut Down Raymondville Aug. 11, 2007

    the following item previously appeared as a site announcement at the Texas Civil Rights Review–gm

    Shut Down Willacy County Immigration Mega-Prison

    (Tent-City) Raymondville, Texas

    Saturday, August 11, 5 p.m.

    Protest and Press Conference

    No More Walls, Fences, or Prisons

    Stop Prisons for Profit

    Sponsored by the Coalition Against Immigrant Repression

    Info: (956) 373-2381 / (956) 245-2552 / (956) 292-1668

  • Maxey sez the Message Is: Defend Don't Amend

    For Glen Maxey, here’s where the focus belongs for folks who want to
    defeat the upcoming attempt to Constitutionalize homophobia: "on the
    Texas Legislature’s failure to address real issues and on our zeal to
    Defend, not Amend, the Texas Bill of Rights."
    That’s from the "No Nonsense Newsletter #2". Subscribe, it’s for free.

    Sez Maxey:

    The election will definitely come down to who can turn out the most voters.

    Help us increase our numbers by sending the Pledge to Vote page to five of your friends and get them pledge to vote against the Nonsense Constitutional Amendment.

  • Heads Up from the Brownsville Herald

    If U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, and his 47 Republican
    co-sponsors get their way, governors will be able to create feder-ally
    funded volunteer militias to prevent people from illegally entering the
    country.


    Lawmaker Proposes Creating Border Militia     The Border Protection Corps Act, introduced on July 28, would authorize
    access to $6.8 billion in unused Homeland Security funds to form
    volunteer border militias that report to their respective county
    sheriffs.

    Thanks to Associate Editor Tony Gallucci for nominating this item.

  • A Model Letter for Healthcare Reform

    This model letter on health care reform is being proposed by our friend David E. McClean, Ph.D. who writes:

    While many Senators and Representatives are back home discussing health care reform with voters, now is the time to pressure them to pass health care reform legislation. You probably have already bookmarked the contact information for your elected officials but, just in case, here are some links to the House and Senate.

    Here, also, is a model letter to cut and paste, but it is just some suggested language. What ever language you would use, use it NOW.

    Dear [Senator] [Representative]

    The crazy health care system that we have in this country needs to be fixed without delay. The iron is hot and it is time to strike a blow for what is right. We are all citizens of a rich and powerful nation. We owe each other more than allowing certain of us to die or suffer for lack of money to pay for medical care. And we owe each other more than financial ruin as the price for receiving medical treatment simply because we are or were unable to get insurance from a for-profit insurance company.

    As my [Senator] [Representative], I am asking you to push and push hard to get health care reform through the [Senate] [House] before the end of this calendar year (and sooner, if at all possible), and to support President Obama in his efforts to “sell” health care reform to the country and counter the disinformation campaign that has been launched by the Republican Party. The President is in a battle against powerful interests, and he needs your help. Go down in history as one who fought for major reform of our system of health care! There will not be a better time to act.

    And remember, watered-down reform is not the goal. The goal is first-class health insurance for all Americans, with a robust public option that assures the provision of services, ease of payment, and that drives down the costs associated with medical care – – even if that comes at the expense of the insurance companies in the long run. Health care is unlike most other services that are provided by for-profit companies in the marketplace.

    Health care is about lives. The social good that health care institutions provide should never be compared to the goods and services other private companies provide. So I urge you to reject the radical free market arguments of know-nothing market fundamentalists, and do what is right for your fellow citizens. For there would be no “free market” if government (that is, the people) did not provide the framework for its success. Life and health must come before profit.

    Sincerely,
    [Your Name]