![](https://refusefascism.org/wp-content/uploads/4e16e5c2-1b30-4896-8d5b-c304f6af3958-large16x9_SB4_Protest_BD_TT_jpg_800x1000_q1001-300x169.jpg)
This article is slightly edited from an email sent by Austin Refuse Fascism.
Austin, May 7 Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB4) – a vicious anti–immigrant measure – was signed into law yesterday by Governor Abbott on a Facebook Live Feed. Despite all of the righteous rallying, protest, and organizing against this racist policy, an even harsher version of the bill was plowed through. More than one speaker at Austin’s May Day rally made the connection between the passage of this bill and the emboldening of anti-immigrant, xenophobic policies by the Trump/Pence regime. Whether you call them racists, hardliners, or right-wing extremists, SB4 is a victory for the fascists. And there will be many more if we don’t stop them.
United We Dream has scheduled a Mother’s Day rally against SB4 for Sunday, May 14th at 12 pm at City Hall. Please join Austin Refuse Fascism at this rally to support the people targeted and also to keep stating what needs to be stated – that these attacks will continue and more and more of our rights will be eroded unless we drive out the Trump/Pence regime. We need people to pass out stickers (they go like hotcakes), pass out flyers, hold the banner, and sign people up on our mailing list. If you can’t make it, try to send two people who can go in your place and tell at least 5 other people about this rally.
We need to be talking to everyone about the importance of being in the streets to resist. Of course, none of us can go to every action. This is why we need thousands and ultimately millions to join the resistance and drive these fascists out of power.
This week, more backward laws are being discussed at the Capitol:
* HB 3859 allowing publicly funded child welfare providers a license to discriminate in adoption/foster care placement.
* Three bills on reproductive rights – HB200, HB 1936 and HB 2858 will be debated on Monday & Tuesday.
* S.B. 1018 allowing “baby jails” to be licensed as day care facilities.
While all of these bills are being debated under a seemingly democratic process, history has shown us that fascists are able to rise to power and consolidate their power through the mechanisms of the electoral system. Stopping them takes massive resistance outside of the normal channels. Calling representatives and sitting in on hearings is not enough. We have to be visible in the streets in larger and larger numbers, with a unified goal of driving the fascists from power. Imagine the actions at the insurance building on May Day – when dozens of protesters staged a sit-in inside and hundreds rallied fiercely outside, refusing to leave until every last one of the occupiers was released – happening on a much larger scale.
We will be having a dinner meet and greet soon, where we can get to know each other, discuss what’s going on, and pick up more signs, flyers, and stickers to hand out at the various protests and events around the city. This Austin chapter is just over a month old. Our message is getting out there, but we need to reach more people and become a force within this city and state and get this national movement to the next level.
Fascism is not just a gross combination of horrific reactionary policies. It is a qualitative change in how society is governed. Fascism foments and relies on xenophobic nationalism, racism, misogyny, and the aggressive re-institution of oppressive “traditional values.” Once in power, fascism essentially eliminates traditional democratic rights.