AUSTIN, Texas – From the federal, to the state and local level – it is clear that Republicans in charge are inept and can’t be trusted to govern. Today, Texas Democrats held a press conference at the site of the Texas Republican Convention featuring Congressman Joaquin Castro, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, Rep. Vikki Goodwin, Rep. Gene Wu, Rep. Josey Garcia and Adrian Reyna.

Watch the full press conference here.

“The Republican state government continues to take away freedom after freedom and the people of Texas have a choice: whether they're going to continue to go along with that extremism or whether they're going to take a different path. We offer that different path,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro.

“This election is about freedom versus extremism. The freedom to choose, the freedom to love, and the freedom to participate in our democracy. That's not what's occurring here. And for a building named after the late Congressman Henry B. González, a champion of the poor, a champion of civil rights, a champion of immigrants – he would not let that stand under his watch. We will not let that stand under our watch,” said Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer.

“I want to remind the Republicans that people are fed up as a result of their anti abortion laws. Texans want to have a say in the matter. Texans want to vote and make the decision of whether a woman and her doctor make the medical decisions or whether the government makes medical decisions for us,” said Texas House Representative Vikki Goodwin.

“We had the leaders of this Republican Party sit down for six hours to meet with Nick Fuentes, a self avowed neo-Nazi and white supremacist. This is what the Texas GOP has become. 80 years ago, our country sacrificed American lives to defeat the Nazis. And once again 80 years later, it is necessary that we defeat Nazis again,” said Texas House Representative Gene Wu.

“We want to honor the sacrifices of our veterans by protecting and serving Texans. This is a call to action. The issues that we fight for are not partisan issues. They're not just democratic issues. They're American issues and people die for this right. Head to the polls, get engaged, and call your representatives. Call the people who are inside this building who are ignoring protecting Texans first,” said Texas House Representative Josey Garcia.

“We fight because Democrats know that our public schools are the foundation of a functioning democracy that empower, lift up, liberate, and transform young people and our communities. Our public schools are where students learn who they are, where they come from, and the power that they have in the world, especially when they work together. This is precisely what Governor Abbott and the billionaires fear the most. And that's what's behind their motivation to defund and dismantle public education in Texas,” said Adrian Reyna.

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