Beto O'Rourke / Flickr Beto O x27 Rourke Official Portrait...
Beto O'Rourke / Flickr

Beto O’Rourke is set to lead the “March for Truth” march in El Paso on Monday to counter trump’s fear-mongering rally that day. The protesters will march past the Trump rally site and culminate in a celebration of community across the street at around 7 p.m. local time, about the same time trump plans to take the stage. Beta is expected to address the community and might even play with some of the local bands.

March for Truth is being sponsored by several nonprofit groups — including Border Network for Human Rights and Women’s March El Paso — as well as more than 60 local musicians (including Fixed Idea, Radio La Chusma, Sinbuenos, mariachis). Protesters are encouraged to wear white and to bring a positive poster. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.), who won O’Rourke’s former congressional seat, will also speak at the event.

The facebook link for the event is in the tweet below –

From the graphics department –

Here is a map highlighting the event locations –

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The one-mile march will begin near Bowie High School (5 p.m local time), pass the convention center holding Trump’s event and finish at Chalio Acosta Sports Center. Beto’s speech will be around 7 p.m. local time.

Beto’s Column

Beto wrote a detailed column at medium.com/… where he outlines his sensible thoughts on immigration, provides detailed insights into the history of immigration on the southern border, how U.S. policy has made things worse sometimes with the best of intentions, and his recommendations on how to improve the situation. Here in an abbreviated outline of his recommendations –

  1. Extend citizenship to the more than one million Dreamers in this country.
  2. Give permanent legal protection and a path to citizenship to their parents, the original Dreamers.
  3. Bring millions more out of the shadows and on a path to citizenship.
  4. Make us safer and more secure. Significantly reduce illegal drug trafficking and stop human trafficking by investing in infrastructure, technology and personnel at our ports of entry.
  5. Increase the visa caps so that we match our opportunities and needs (for work, for education, for investment, for innovation, for family reunification) to the number of people we allow into this country.
  6. Fully accept our opportunity and responsibility under our asylum laws to welcome those whose own governments can no longer protect them — including women fleeing abusive relationships.
  7. Address visa overstays (which accounts for the majority of undocumented immigration) through better tracking of and notification to visa holders.
  8. Make Latin America and specifically Central America a top foreign policy priority — stop relegating it to second-tier status — invest the time, talent and resources to assist in the development of the domestic institutions that will allow these countries to thrive.
  9. End the global war on drugs.
  10. Speak with respect and dignity when referring to our fellow human beings who happen to be immigrants and asylum seekers, who in so many cases are doing exactly what we would do if presented with the same threats and opportunities. No more “invasions”, “animals”, “rapists and criminals”, “floods”, “crisis” — dehumanizing rhetoric leads to dehumanizing policies. We cannot sacrifice our humanity in the name of security — or we risk losing both.

Monday we will welcome the President to one of the safest cities in the United States. Safe not because of walls, and not in spite of the fact that we are a city of immigrants. Safe because we are a city of immigrants and because we treat each other with dignity and respect. A city that has the opportunity to lead on the most important issues before us, out of experience, out of compassion and out of a fierce determination to see this country live its ideals and rise to its full potential.

Beto draws heavily from this report –

In related news …

Earlier this week, even acting AG Whitaker, when cornered, could not supports trump’s assertions about El Paso being an unsafe city.

Also, trump baby is also making travel plans to El Paso. Not sure if it is is a useful idea and whether it may turn out to be counter-productive.

Epilogue

What do you think? Is a counter-protest like this near trump rallies a good idea? Will it help divert the media’s attention away from trump and towards progressive rallies, ideas and personalities? Should we do this at every trump rally? Should other Democrat leaders take turns doing this? Will it help local Democratic leaders? Will it help keep local progressive organizations energized?

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