We Won't Be Silent
Bastrop Ignites on April 19th
Hands Off Bastrop
Community Power on Display in Bastrop: 200 Gather for April 19 Hands Off Rally
On Friday, April 19th, the people of Bastrop showed up—and showed out.
Roughly 200 community members came together downtown for the Hands Off rally, joining a nationwide day of action to demand an end to political interference in our personal freedoms—especially when it comes to reproductive rights, healthcare access, social security, democracy, and bodily autonomy.
Protesters from across Bastrop County came out to call for justice and remind us all that this fight touches every corner of our lives. Local organizers, healthcare workers, students, and faith leaders stood united, echoing the same message: Hands off our bodies. Hands off our rights. Hands off our lives.
Though Bastrop may be a smaller town, the energy and turnout rivaled those of much larger cities. And we weren’t alone.
Across the country, communities big and small rallied together. In Austin, thousands filled the Capitol grounds. In cities like Des Moines, Boise, and Orlando, crowds swelled in the hundreds. In small towns from Kentucky to California, even a few dozen voices made an impact.
April 19th was proof that the movement for freedom, dignity, and justice isn’t confined to the coasts or the big cities—it lives here in Bastrop, too. And it’s growing.
Whether you were in the crowd with us or standing in spirit, thank you for being part of this moment. We are louder together, and we’re just getting started.
Stay connected. Stay engaged. The fight continues—and so do we.
Stan Gerdes Cruelty is Showing Again
Stan Gerdes has introduced a bill that would restrict what people can purchase with food stamps (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP). Basically, it would not allow poor people to use their SNAP benefits to buy candy or soda with their SNAP benefits.
At first glance, this may seem like an effort to promote better diets or reduce obesity, but research shows that this bill would not aid in either outcome. Instead,, the bill seems designed to make SNAP more confusing and more difficult for retailers to implement. For many reasons, Feeding Texas is opposed to this bill.
SNAP utilization is already linked to lower health care costs and lower risk of heart disease & obesity among low-income individuals. In addition, seniors on SNAP experience fewer hospitalizations & children achieve better health and academic outcomes.
SNAP participants are not less healthy than regular Americans. Studies show that SNAP recipients purchase unhealthy foods at the same rate as everyone else.
Because SNAP is never 100% of a family's food budget, banning certain SNAP purchases will not change shopping patterns.
The current definitions of "corn chips", "cookie", and "candy" are not as straightforward as they seem. Are Fig Newtons "cookies"? What about the protein cookies that are located in the health food section? Would trail mix with M&M's be included in the ban on "candy"? What about Quest protein chips? Are Veggie Straws (which contain a small amount of corn starch) considered "corn chips"?
Currently, Texas HHSC has said that they plan to leave it up to the retailers to decide what is "in" vs "out" of SNAP based on these very broad terms, with no consideration for the actual nutritional value of the individual item. This would cause discrepancies between retailers & mass confusion & frustration amongst SNAP participants.
People on SNAP should be allowed the same joys in life as everyone else – including buying their child a cookie or candy bar on their birthday.
If you live anywhere in the state of Texas, please join in sending your opposition to this bill by using the electronic letter linked here: https://secure.feedingtexas.org/a/snap-restrictions
You do not have to look up your representative – it does that automatically when you type in your address. It only takes about 1 minute, and it could make an impact.
SAVE THE DATE
I'm pleased to announce that the Texas Rural Summit, a two-day event, will take place June 13-14, 2025, at the Bastrop Convention Center in Bastrop, Texas. We're bringing together experts, elected officials, and community leaders to develop targeted approaches to address the unique challenges facing Rural Texans. We'll be working together to develop strategies for better urban-rural relations and for dealing with the voucher scam. We'll be hearing from women who have run for office in rural Texas, as well as from rural voters. If you're interested, more details on the speakers, panel topics, and how to get involved are available from Carla Schoonover at 940-329-0514 or by email at Carla@the134pac.org. This is organized by the 134 PAC and the Coalition of Democratic Allies. Please join us!
Texas Democratic Women at Blue Ribbon Lobby Day – April 15th
On April 15th, the Texas Democratic Women (TDW) proudly participated in Blue Ribbon Lobby Day at the Texas Capitol. We were honored with formal recognition in both the Texas House and Senate. Representative Ron Reynolds welcomed us in the House, while Senator Sarah Eckhardt extended a warm welcome in the Senate, joined by several fellow Democratic Senators.
TDW members Angela Nixon and Ruth Todd had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with Senator Eckhardt following the ceremony. Throughout the day, we met with our respective Representatives and Senate staff, advocating fiercely against the proposed school voucher legislation.
Despite our efforts and the clear voices of concerned citizens, Representative Stan Gerdes chose to side with special interests, voting in favor of what we call the Voucher Scam. His decision to follow the money instead of standing with public education is deeply disappointing.
We remain committed to fighting for strong, equitable public schools and will continue holding our elected officials accountable.
A couple of quick reminders:
Bastrop Protests every Thursday on the corner of Main and Chestnut 12-1:00
April 26th No McCaul Townhall Sign Up Here for Townhall
May 3rd Municipal Elections - Early Voting 4/22-4/29 Election Info
June 13-14 Rural Texas Summit, Bastrop Convention Center
Volunteer to make phone calls for Cheryl Lee