Megaphone Texas

Where should I spend my money as a Texas consumer, taking into account the political donations of businesses?  After looking up news articles, as well as donation numbers from employees, executives, and political action committees (PACs), I come up with conclusions for Fall 2021. Today's episode is on groceries.

These are 11 minutes of raw audio recorded among protest marchers on Sunday, June 7, in Austin, Texas, in support of Black Lives Matter, Mike Ramos, the Austin Justice Coalition, and against racism and police brutality.  This was during a march from Huston-Tillotson University in East Austin toward the closed and fortified Texas Capitol grounds downtown.

This is an excerpt of Chas Moore's speech at the protest for Mike Ramos, Black Lives Matter, and against police brutality, in Austin on Sunday, June 7, starting at Huston-Tillotson University.  Chas is the founder of the Austin Justice Coalition. The cover art photo shows people holding signs saying, "I love you I'm sorry," "I stand with you", "Black lives matter," and more.

Sheri Soltes is a nonprofit CEO in Austin, Texas, and she's running for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 3, covering parts of Austin, Lakeway, Lago Vista, and other parts of this Central Texas county.  She talks about why this race matters to her, as well as the work it takes to win a local Texas election.  Her campaign site is: SheriForTexas.com

Dr. Terri LeClercq advocates for prisoners' civil rights.  Her past career as an English teacher at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law informs her current activism, along with a past arrest.

"Write to the people who piss you off.  You don't have to just be angry all the time."  Ellen is a retired reporter in Austin who wants to change the current government administration in power.  She wants people to get motivated to act on their values instead of waiting for others.

Larry is a self-described activist with a background as a software developer.  Now retired, today he is active in political causes largely to feel better about his own mental health. He knocks on doors, talks to his Congressional representatives with personal stories, talks to his neighbors, travels to Washington DC, and develops relationships.  Here he gives his practical thoughts on Senators Cornyn and Cruz and Representative Williams in the 25th District in Texas.

Stephanie started standing up for what she believed in, through protest, when she was young.  Today, she continues pushing for social and political causes around Texas as an activist.  Some of her causes include reproductive rights, anti-racism, prison reform, environmentalism, and human rights.

75-year-old Bobbie in Austin is a very politically involved cartoonist and educator.  She advocates for many goals close to her, through art, rallies, postcarding, and voter registration.  She talks about why she does all this. 

Reverend Chuck Freeman of Williamson County works with the Justice Ministry for Unitarian Universalist congregations in Texas. He is very focused on organizing people to do good and fight against dangers from those in power. 

Retired lawyer Lorri in Austin volunteers to help immigration organizations and asylum seekers in Central Texas.  Lorri objects to how ICE and for-profit detention centers treat asylum seekers as criminals, and she pushes for case management systems instead.  She describes the hurdles asylum seekers face here to have their legal cases heard.

Marina is a nurse from Austin and the Rio Grande Valley who deeply opposes the detention centers for children crossing the Texas-Mexico border.  She describes traveling to various centers around Texas to protest and provide aid, as well as describing the needs of the people detained at the border.

Recent violence in El Paso made Ana in Austin reflect on immigrants in America.  She talks about what she has learned living and working at the border for decades. Her opinions also were published in the El Paso Times on August 31, 2019: "This land is our land, a changing tapestry of people"

Lisa from San Antonio and Austin describes how she has been involved in politics since she was a kid, and how she is especially involved now.  She gives advice on how anyone can take political action.

Jan from Bastrop in Central Texas is hugely concerned about the way the USA is handling several issues at the border with Mexico.

Michelle from Bastrop County discusses increasing political participation among rural Texans.  She wants better government representatives who meet with constituents, improved hospital and healthcare infrastructure for her neighbors, and funding for public education.

Lisa from Austin describes postcard activism projects in Texas and around the country.  She explains how postcards can help get out the vote and inform people about political issues, while being a little therapeutic for writers, too.

Vanessa from Austin, Texas, talks about why she wants the detention centers at the border to be closed. She describes what she saw in the children's detention center in Tornillo, Texas, and what she would say to her neighbors and representatives about them.

Ramey is part of Texas State Senate District 14 and is following several elections, including races for US Senate, Texas Attorney General, and Texas Supreme Court Judges. He talks about why the judicial elections are important to him.

Kent is part of the 10th Congressional District in Texas.  He's concerned about tax bills benefiting the wealthy, and he wants to elect representatives who will fight against this agenda.

Constance votes in the 2nd US Congressional District of Texas and resides in Houston.  She's considering several major issues when casting her ballot this year for US Representative, county judge, and other Texas political seats.  Some of these issues include better flood planning and infrastructure, better diversity and communication among her representatives, and expanded voting rights.

Deborah is a voter in the 10th Congressional District in Texas. She talks about her support for a new House Representative, Mike Siegel, based on his efforts to reach out to constituents.  She also talks about her frustration with the lack of communication from her current House Representative.

Sheri is part of the 25th US Congressional District in Texas.  She's following and has met multiple candidates on her ballot, including those for US House of Representatives for District 25, Texas Agricultural Commissioner, Lt. Governor, and Texas Attorney General.  Sheri talks about why she's voting for candidates Julie Oliver, Kim Olson, Mike Collier, and Justin Nelson, among others. We spoke to her at a busy Austin popsicle shop.