Tracie and I were already planning tomorrow’s protest of the newly built Confederate memorial in Orange, Texas where she grew up when we were contacted a couple of young women, sisters, who live there. They wanted to organize their own protest, they told us, and they were asking for our help.

The flyer below was designed by the older of the two, a recent college grad on her way to medical school.

If two young people like them have the courage to stand up against racist iconography like the “Confederate Memorial of the Wind,” then I truly believe there’s hope for our cause.

They’ll be there with us tomorrow, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., as we protest Confederate flags planted along Martin Luther King, Dr. — one of the city’s main arteries — in 2017.

If you can, please join us for our protest. Details here.

And please, if you can, contribute to our GoFundMe campaign to raise an MLK billboard that will overlook the site for an entire year.

Confederate iconography is being dismantled across the country — literally as I write this.

Yesterday, the mayor of Houston announced that the city will be removing the last two Confederate statues still standing here.

Earlier this week the U.S. Navy announced that it will be following in the footsteps of the U.S. Marine Corps in banning displays of the Confederate flag.

And also earlier this week, NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from its events.

I’d also like to bring the following press release from the Texas Legislative Black Caucus to your attention. On Tuesday, the caucus announced a series of town halls on racism, criminal justice reform, and policing that will take place next week.

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The Texas Legislative Black Caucus will host multiple, virtual town
halls in a series called, “From Protests to Policy and Progress.”

Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC) will host a series of virtual
town halls focused on racism, criminal justice, and policing in the black community
for the various regions in the state. From North Texas, South Texas, East Texas and
West Texas starting daily on June 15, 2020, and ending on June 19, 2020, with a
statewide town hall, members of the TLBC will engage with Texans to listen to their
ideas and learn about their concerns. All are invited to participate. Each town hall
will start at 7:00PM and end by 8:30PM.

Click here to read the complete press release.

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Thank you for being here. Thank you for your support and solidarity.