COPS / Metro Demands End to Detention of Refugee Families
More than 60 interfaith allies, including leaders from COPS/Metro Alliance, demanded an end to the detention of refugee children and mothers in private prisons at Dilley and Karnes City, Texas. Leaders held a press conference on Friday, May 8th at the San Antonio ICE field office, during which Fr. Walter D'heedene from Sacred Heart Catholic Church spoke, alongside leaders from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM), and RAICES.
The group attempted to deliver petitions calling for an end to imprisonment of refugee children.
Read moreTexas IAF Fights Anti-Sanctuary Bill SB 185
On Monday at 8am, faith leaders across Texas arrived at the Capitol to fight Senate Bill 185, which would outlaw sanctuary cities in Texas and threaten local efforts to build better relationships between police and communities. Sponsored by State Senator Charles Perry, from Lubbock, the bill would prohibit cities from forbidding police to enforce immigration laws.
Read moreTMO Parent Leaders Protest Rezoning - Succeed in Delaying Board Vote
TMO leaders and parents of children attending Lyons Elementary held a pre-board meeting press conference to detail their concerns about the latest HISD proposal to rezone elementary schools. Rosa Rivera argued that a plan to shift new students to nearby elementary schools would negatively impact the education of her children as the nearby schools are not as high quality as Lyons. "Before they start to do all these movements, I would like HISD to improve the schools."
Read moreTMO Leaders Push for Substantive Metro Bus Service Overhaul
Regular Metro bus rider Julia Ramirez and TMO leaders Fr. Kevin Collins and Franklin Olson argue that the Metro bus system of Houston needs major changes if it plans to create a new system. With a commute that currently takes at least two hours each way, Ramirez pinpoints 4 concrete needed changes in the article below.
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Valley Interfaith Decries Judge's Injunction, Reminds Immigrants that DACA Remains in Effect
The press conference started with the story of teacher in 2001, invited from Mexico to teach in MacAllen in 2001 -- then disinvited when 9/11 attacks led to dramatic changes in the treatment of immigrants.
Read moreAt 40, COPS Still Standing Up for Residents
Andrew "Andy" Sarabia, the first president of COPS, Communities Organized for Public Service in San Antonio, argues in the San Antonio Express News that COPS has been a significant and powerful part of the city's history, starting with initial "tie-up" confrontations with the city's power structure to get it to recognize the needs of families and communities. Read more below:
At 40, COPS Still Standing Up For Residents, San Antonio Express News
TMO Confronts Houston PD Over Rampant Crime in North
Hundreds of TMO leaders confronted Houston Police Department officers with stories of relentless auto-theft, campus drug sales and physical assaults in North Houston. When the seated assembly was asked to stand if they had been personally been impacted by crime, more than half the room was on its feet. Councilmember Gonzalez was on hand to respond as well.
Cansados del Crimen Que Azota Al Norte De Houston, Univision 45
COPS / Metro Officially Launches Living Wage Campaign
According to Gloria Mora of COPS / Metro Alliance, "it is unacceptable that in a city where the unemployment rate is only 4.7%, a full 20 percent of our residents live under the federal poverty line." With that statement, COPS / Metro announced a general assembly to address the need for a San Antonio living wage. In that assembly, leaders aim to confront Bexar County Commissioners and San Antonio mayoral candidates to address financial issues impacting families including wages, wage theft and predatory lending.
Read moreCOPS / Metro Leaders Denounce City Gag Order on NonProfits
COPS / Metro Alliance leaders visually illustrated the implications of a new City rule with a gagged leader standing on the steps of City Hall. Rosa Araujo-Iracheta of St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church detailed what the new rules would entail, exclaiming "For some agencies, this blackout period has been in effect since March...That's over five months of being shut out!"
A new San Antonio city rule prohibiting non-profits from talking to City Councilmembers about the budget prompted the press conference. Leaders pointed out that the new rule amounted to a gag order, as it applied even to nonprofits not requesting City funds for themselves.
Read moreEPISO Payday Victory Generates Interest in Statewide Legislation
Victorious from a January move to limit payday lending profitability in El Paso, leaders of Border Interfaith and El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization (EPISO) are setting their sights on statewide legislation.
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