By LE “Lilly” Brown
Hundreds of ‘Beto For Texas’ enthusiasts filed into Fair Park this past Sunday to celebrate Beto O’Rourke’s announcement that he will be running for Governor of Texas in 2022.
Since his announcement early last week, O’Rourke has been on a full Texas tour, hosting kickoff campaigns in prominent and rural cities across the state.
Born Robert Francis O’Rourke, he gained notoriety as an El Paso city councilman in 2005 and served until 2011. He grew his audience of political supporters when he ran for the State House of Representatives.
After winning, Beto O’Rourke served Texas Congressional District 16 from 2013 to 2019. In 2018, he gained national recognition for his popular race against Senator Ted Cruz for the United States Senate; gaining support from [Texas-born] celebrities like Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland.
He solidified his national popularity by running for president of the United States in the 2020 election, however, he dropped out of the race before the primaries. Thus, leaving many of his supporters and political allies eager for his next move.
“Friends, where we stand now hold the record for the largest [Klu Klux] Klan induction in American history,” emphasized Rev, Michael Waters. “Over 5,000 men, along with 800 women, who were inducted into the auxiliary.”
Waters opened the Beto rally by acknowledging the morning’s gathering [of Dallasites] in Downtown Dallas to honor Allen Brooks, a Black man who was lynched in front of 5,000 men, women, and children on March 3rd, 1910.
He further set the backdrop of the scene by acknowledging “Fair Park Lie,” an article that highlights the destruction of 300 [Black-owned] homes that were seized to “curb the uncomfortability of White fair goers who did not wish to see or acknowledge Black poverty” in the area.
“Friends, this is the painful truth of our history,” said Rev. Waters. “And in the politics of Greg Abbott, he would want us to beget this [history].” As the crowd booed at the mention of the current Governor and the harms of his recent special sessions, Beto ran out on stage with a flash mob of ‘Beto For Texas’ volunteers to an upbeat tune that reiterated that “Greg Abbott is an existential threat to Texas!”
“We are building trust among each other because we are listening to one another,” started Beto. “We are looking at each other for who we are with the kindness and respect, and dignity that we are owed! That is who we are in the state of Texas, and this [Abbott] craziness that they are reporting to the rest of the world is not us!
“These extreme policies that are trying to decide which middle school girl can play which athletic sport, this cruelty of pitting each other against one another and further dividing this highly polarized state, that is not us,” he continued.
According to O’Rourke, his campaign will “reignite the big and bold [Democratic] people of Texas who are ready to reclaim the state and prove that as a State, we can listen to and trust one another.”
He stated that Greg Abbott does not trust or listen to Tex- ans and proved this when he refused to weatherize the power grid, causing hundreds of constituents to die during Winter 2020.
Beto’s campaign guaranteed that in their administration the grid would be weatherized, hospitals as well as water, and other critical infrastructure would continue to be protected by individuals like Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
He said this demand for less energy when we need it will create jobs in the state. In what Beto calls the “Abbott Tax,” he further emphasized that Texans are in danger of a 15% increase to their utility bills to clean up Abbott’s mess.
Beto continued, “When I am Governor, I am going to send resources back to you, so that you don’t bear the burden on this issue.” He continued his remarks with promises to support law enforcement leaders and repeal the new permitless carry bill, which he believes makes all Texans less safe. He vowed to protect fellow Texans as we protect the second amendment. He acknowledged the suppression of voting rights and vowed to identify and repeal as many of the harmful policies as possible.
Closing his speech in Spanish, the crowd responded to Beto’s remarks with enthusiasm and conviction! After the rally concluded, attendees were welcome to get a photo with the Governor-hopeful and share their excitement with friends, family, and neighbors.
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