Today, we’re calling Austin Mayor Kirk Watson ☎️ (512) 978-2100

This week, APD killed a 17 year old Black teenager on a playground in Northeast Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis called it “suicide by cop.” There’s a lot we could say — and we have — but now we’re calling on you to helpprevent APD from getting more money in this upcoming city budget.

The city budget decision is coming up fast, and this week we’re doing a “phone zap” AKA a coordinated action to call council member with a specific message: NO MORE MONEY FOR APD.

We need to show the City that we care that we’re increasing the funding to APD while stripping Austinites of their safety nets. We hope that you call our Council Members & Mayor during this action, and show them that Austinites mean business!

Today, we’re calling Vanessa Fuentes ☎️ (512) 978-2102 + Jose Velasquez ☎️ (512) 978-2103

This week, APD killed a 17 year old Black teenager on a playground in Northeast Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis called it “suicide by cop.” There’s a lot we could say — and we have — but now we’re calling on you to helpprevent APD from getting more money in this upcoming city budget.

The city budget decision is coming up fast, and this week we’re doing a “phone zap” AKA a coordinated action to call council member with a specific message: NO MORE MONEY FOR APD.

We need to show the City that we care that we’re increasing the funding to APD while stripping Austinites of their safety nets. We hope that you call our Council Members & Mayor during this action, and show them that Austinites mean business!

Today, we’re calling Chito Vela ☎️ (512) 978-2104 + Ryan Alter ☎️ (512) 978-2105

This week, APD killed a 17 year old Black teenager on a playground in Northeast Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis called it “suicide by cop.” There’s a lot we could say — and we have — but now we’re calling on you to helpprevent APD from getting more money in this upcoming city budget.

The city budget decision is coming up fast, and this week we’re doing a “phone zap” AKA a coordinated action to call council member with a specific message: NO MORE MONEY FOR APD.

We need to show the City that we care that we’re increasing the funding to APD while stripping Austinites of their safety nets. We hope that you call our Council Members & Mayor during this action, and show them that Austinites mean business!

Today, we’re calling Natasha Harper-Madison ☎️ (512) 978-2101 + Krista Laine ☎️ (512) 978-2106

This week, APD killed a 17 year old Black teenager on a playground in Northeast Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis called it “suicide by cop.” There’s a lot we could say — and we have — but now we’re calling on you to help prevent APD from getting more money in this upcoming city budget.

The city budget decision is coming up fast, and this week we’re doing a “phone zap” AKA a coordinated action to call council member with a specific message: NO MORE MONEY FOR APD

Today, we’re calling Marc Duchen ☎️ (512) 978-2110 + Paige Ellis ☎️ (512) 978-2106

This week, APD killed a 17 year old Black teenager on a playground in Northeast Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis called it “suicide by cop.” There’s a lot we could say — and we have — but now we’re calling on you to helpprevent APD from getting more money in this upcoming city budget.

The city budget decision is coming up fast, and this week we’re doing a “phone zap” AKA a coordinated action to call council member with a specific message: NO MORE MONEY FOR APD.

We need to show the City that we care that we’re increasing the funding to APD while stripping Austinites of their safety nets. We hope that you call our Council Members & Mayor during this action, and show them that Austinites mean business!

Today, we’re calling Zo Qadri ☎️ (512) 978-2109 + Mike Siegel ☎️ (512) 978-2107

This week, APD killed a 17 year old Black teenager on a playground in Northeast Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis called it “suicide by cop.” There’s a lot we could say — and we have — but now we’re calling on you to helpprevent APD from getting more money in this upcoming city budget.

The city budget decision is coming up fast, and this week we’re doing a “phone zap” AKA a coordinated action to call council member with a specific message: NO MORE MONEY FOR APD.

We need to show the City that we care that we’re increasing the funding to APD while stripping Austinites of their safety nets. We hope that you call our Council Members & Mayor during this action, and show them that Austinites mean business!

Join us for our monthly book club! In July, we’re reading “Surviving Autocracy” by Masha Gessen

🥁 Join us July 8th for a HOCTX Drum Social 🥁

Get together with other activists and create your very own "protest drum.” With 5-gallon buckets and simple instructions, we'll equip you with an instrument that you can use solo or with others to make some noise, add rhythm to your events, and make your voice heard! Space is limited - RSVP now

Join us June 28 in support of the Billionaire Backers of Hate Austin overnight vigil - starting at 8pm!

This 12-hour vigil outside of the Lonsdale's Cicero Institute will commemorate 2 years since the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Johnson v. Grants Passthat cities can jail or ticket people who don’t have housing - instead of offering help!

Join us for the first hour (8:00PM-9:00 PM) for community and speakers. Stay as long as you can. We welcome support throughout the vigil!

This 12-hour vigil outside of the Lonsdale's Cicero Institute will commemorate 2 years since the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Johnson v. Grants Passthat cities can jail or ticket people who don’t have housing - instead of offering help!

Join us for the first hour (8:00PM-9:00 PM) for community and speakers. Stay as long as you can. We welcome support throughout the vigil!

Last month, VOCAL TX launched the Billionaire Backers of Hate campaign to expose the billionaires in Austin who are funding and driving Trump’s hateful agenda, and to build the power to stop them. Thank you for supporting the May Day Billionaire Backers of Hate action!

Joe Lonsdale is one of Austin’s Billionaire Backers of Hate. He founded the Cicero Institute – a leading force behind laws that criminalize homelessness across the country. He is also the co-founder of Palantir, the infamous tech giant known for selling data for government surveillance, including for use in ICE operations. The Cicero Institute was one of the architects behind Texas’ camping ban (HB 1925) and has since authored and lobbied for versions of its template bill in ten states. They submitted a brief in the Supreme Court’s case Johnson v. Grants Pass in favor of arresting and ticketing people for sleeping outside and have informed the Trump Administration's relentless attacks on real solutions to homelessness like housing and support.

This hits CLOSE TO HOME: Our homeless neighbors here in Austin are experiencing brutal homeless camps sweeps this year from both DPSand APD. Also, Lonsdale went on Fox News recently claiming that Austin has “forfeited the right to democracy” after stopping ALRPs 🤨

Last week, the National Homeless Law Center published thisgroundbreaking report detailing how Lonsdale and his allies have deep connections to the prison, defense, and surveillance tech industries and stand to profit from the same anti-homeless laws they advocate for.

Join us (and a bunch of local orgs) for a 12-hour vigil starting Sunday, June 28th at 8:00PM outside of the Cicero Institute, as we mark two years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass. We must stand up to policies that harm our communities, and to the Billionaire Backers of Hate who profit off brutality!

Join us for our monthly book club!

In June, we’re reading “Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary” by Timothy Snyder

Take action to fund our domestic violence shelter and survivor services!

HOCTX is NOT doing an event for June 14’s national NO KINGS “Rise Up Sing Out” watch party. Please consider attending a watch party hosted by another local group!

New Braunfels Watch Party

Help us celebrate our first year of activism with an anniversary party!

Join us for Book Club on May 31! Our special guest this month is professor Bryan Register, then we open it up for a group discussion on the themes of “Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future” by Jason F. Stanley…

May 26 is the runoff election for the TX party primaries which happened in Feb & March.

Early voting is May 18 - 22. The winner of these runoff elections will be on the November ballot.

We recommend the local LWV Guide for a nonpartisan look at your candidate choices…

Democratic voters will be choosing between:

Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez for Lieutenant Governor(statewide)

Milah Flores and Casey Shepard for U.S. House District 17

Montserrat Garibay and Kathie Tovo for Texas House District 49 (Central ATX)

as well as local seats…

Susanna Ledesma-Woody and George Morales III for Travis Commissioner Pct. 4

Cynthia Millonzi and Nicholas Costilla for Hays County Clerk (Bastrop +)

Ruben Becerra and Michelle Gutierrez Cohen for Hays County Judge (Bastrop +

Chris Johnson and Thomas Just for Hays County Court-at-Law 2 (Bastrop +

Republican voters will be choosing between:

Ken Paxton and John Cornyn for TX Senate (statewide)

Chip Roy and Mayes Middleton for TX Attorney General (statewide)

Jim Wright and Bo French for TX Railroad Commissioner (statewide)

Ge'Nell Gary and Lauren Peña for U.S. House District 37

as well as local seats…

Josh Vandever and Josh Homan for Fayette County Judge

Lacey Hannes and Roberta Brinkman for Lee JP Pct. 4

David McDonald and Jeff Mayes for Williamson Commissioner Pct. 2

During the month of May, @activists_of_austin will be hosting a series of special events at Gallery Dojo while it’s exhibiting our Activist Portrait Show!

You’re invited to an evening of joyful resistance co-organized by the Austin Raging Grannies and Sing for Connection…

“Surrounded by the “Activists of Austin” portrait show, we will gather to sing together and lift our weary hearts. The exhibit features 28 artists matched with committed activists who uphold democracy, immigrant rights, trans lives, mutual aid, and children’s futures. Come enjoy the art, meet the community, and share your voice!”

Join SEAT, Austin SDS, HOCTX and many others for a funeral procession the morning of Wednesday, May 20. Expect a creative protest mourning the death of freedom in Higher Education. UT alumni especially invited!

“ Once sustained by open inquiry and courage, the university faded gradually amid policies and leadership decisions made by regents and administrators.

These decisions constrained free expression, silenced voices, and harmed vulnerable, innocent students.

The UT System is mourned by those who believe a university should be a place where all ideas, and all people, are encouraged to thrive.”

May 26 is the runoff election for the TX party primaries which happened in Feb & March.

Early voting is May 18 - 22. The winner of these runoff elections will be on the November ballot.

We recommend the local LWV Guide for a nonpartisan look at your candidate choices…

✍️ Bring your sketchbook to Gallery Dojo at Canopy for an afternoon of sketching activists!

All Roads Lead to the South.

This national day of action — taking place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 — is intended to bring communities together through peaceful, nonpartisan civic engagement activities focused on democracy, voting rights, community empowerment, and public education.

WED May 6 Update: City council has responded to our public pressure with a new version of their economic incentives resolution - now WITHOUT target industries. This is a step in the right direction, but still still dont have guarantees that we won’t be giving incentives to defense tech, data centers, and more

Read the new version of item 24: Tinyurl.com/Item24change

P.S. Don’t miss the next 🧊 OUT OF ATX protest at 12:30 May 7 also at city hall… action starts at 11:30 with a “pack the gallery” aka go in and watch the council session so they know we’re WATCHING 👀

All hands on deck for public outcry against proposed economic incentives for Data Centers, ai companies, defense tech, and autonomous vehicles!

This week's Austin City Council Agenda includes “Item 24” a resolution directing the City Manager to create a new package of economic incentives for businesses, including some "target industries." (Link to full language of resolution.Link to all Item 24 docs)

The Problem: Without specific bans, we are deeply concerned that this will result in economic incentives for data centers, defense tech, and much more

Our Ask: We are calling on Council to ban specific industries and companies from getting economic incentives in the future, including…

• Data Centers

• Companies linked to Defense Tech (AKA military industrial)

• Autonomous Vehicle Companies

• Ai and ai surveillance companies

• Companies that have paid zero in federal income tax (in any or all years within the last 7-10 years)

Our Goal: (biggest win) Get the resolution vote this thursday may 7 delayed (acceptable) Get a specific list of banned companies included in the economic incentives package when passed this thursday

Call to Action:

CALL & EMAIL before Thursday @ 9 am:Phone numbers & emails of council

Testify in-person or online on Thursday:

• Online registration for in-person and virtual testimony closes Wednesday, May 6 @ 12 p.m. Register here.

• You can also register in person at the Austin City Hall kiosk by 9:15 a.m. on May 7.

DEETS: In-person speakers can donate time to each other. No speaker can take donated time from more than 2 individuals. Translation services are available for both in-person and virtual speakers. Handouts or other documents that speakers wish to provide to Council must be emailed to city.clerk@austintexas.gov by 5 p.m. the night before the meeting. This informationwill be provided to the Mayor and Council in advance of the meeting. (don’t forget to get your parking validated by the front desk if you testify in-person or attend the council meeting!)

Vote Schedule:

> This Thursday, May 7, Austin City Council is voting on the resolution (aka the directive) that puts the city manager’s office on the job of compiling the old and new incentives.

> If the resolution passes this Thursday, in 180 days the City Manager will present the compiled incentives as an ordinance and there will be another council vote to make it law

Data Centers

• Over the last 100 years, Texas has consistently faced droughts. As Austin and surrounding municipalities continue to welcome new residents, increasing the pressure on our water supply, the aquifers and lakes that provide our drinking water are facing increased pollution and industrial use. If we want Austin to exist in 50 years, we need to protect our water supply now.We do not have the water to spare for data centers.Note: Pflugerville, just north of Austin, is at risk of running out of water. Same with Corpus CristiReading: Austin Monthly article, SOS, Austin Water

• Additionally, data centers are increasingly linked to health issues for communities near the facilities. “Diesel backup generators and HVAC systems emit nitrogen oxides, PM2.5, and greenhouse gases, increasing risks of asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, with projected annual fatalities potentially reaching 1,300 by 2030. Data centers generate noise levels that may exceed 90 decibels. Noise levels above 85 decibels are harmful to hearing.” - Environmental Health Project

Autonomous Vehicle Companies

• WAYMO blocking EMS on the evening of the 6th street mass shooting is still top of mind for Austinites, especially after the company refused to send representatives to meet with the City recently, communicating that they feel they are above city regulation. City representatives have assured us that they cannot regulate WAYMO in the current political environment. Why would we incentivize such an industry? 

• WAYMO and self-driving taxis have yet to solve the issues of harassment and violence against riders, clearly illustrated in a 2024 report from SF when a woman was trapped inside a vehicle by men who blocked the path of the vehicle, demanding her phone number. (HOCTX President Sophia Mirto personally asked the WAYMO S/W region sales rep if they had solved this problem in 2024, and she was told they had not, and no further solution has been made public.)

Companies linked to Defense Tech (AKA military industrial)

• In the “Dept of War” era, defense tech is not hurting for federal funding and incentives. Violence does not reflect the values of the City or residents of Austin. The long history of the defense industry exploiting communities and misrepresenting their behavior to the public - we don't want to invite more profit-from-murder companies into our city, which already has too many defense tech startups.

Companies that have paid zero in federal income tax (in any or all years within the last 7-10 years)

• This is to prevent additional economic incentives for companies (like Amazon) that historically sidestep taxes and therefore their economic responsibility to our nation. This corporate behavior is indicative of companies who ground their business model in exploitation - these companies will not operate responsibly in our community or in good faith with our City.

Join us on May 2, 2026 for the first day of the art show highlighting 25+ incredible local activists, organizers, and nonprofit founders.

1 - 4 PM Join us for Canopy’s first Saturday open studio

6 - 9 PM Join us for opening night featuring a DJ, snacks, and convos with artists and activists

In April we’re reading “One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This” by Omar El Akkad.

This month, the first half hour of book club will be a conversation between HOCTX organizer Salvador Espinoza and activist Greg Stoker of Gaza flotilla fame. Then we open the floor to group discussion!