Council Member Greg Casar Makes Statement on Trump

After a decisive victory in the polls for District 4 incumbent Greg Casar, the council member wrote a statement on Trump's presidential victory. Below, we print that statement in its entirety.

Council Member Greg Casar speaks at a press conference in support of Prop. 1 on Tuesday. (photo by John Anderson)

Lots of people, including Donald Trump, are calling for healing and unity today. I won't call for healing. I'm calling for resistance.

There is no healing today for the families who fear they will be arrested, deported, and torn apart by Trump. The proliferation of nuclear weapons, the acceleration of the destruction of our planet, the damage to our economy and our jobs, and all of the other horrible things Trump stands for, are not healing.

Those who believed in civil rights did not call for healing in George Wallace's Alabama. Where there were calls for unity, they were calls for unity in resistance. We protested, we sang, we marched, we prayed, and we picketed until we won change.

In Austin and across our country, we must do the same. We're going to fight back. We're going to fight back against any and all of Trump's policies and politics of fear and hate and division in our city. We're going to take care of one another. We're not going to stand by and let Donald Trump harm any of our families – any of them.

In Austin, we're not just going to resist through protest. We're also going to resist by being a powerful example of effective government. Trump will not bring solutions to our community. We will. We will pass policy that truly fights economic inequality. We will create jobs, and we will help those who desperately thirst for change and fairness in our society. I was re-elected to the City Council last night to do this work alongside our communities.

As many of you know, I began my work in politics in the immigrants' rights movement. To my brothers and sisters who are immigrants and are in immigrant families: I will do everything I can to keep you safe. I was asked by the Statesman yesterday if I would shake Donald Trump's hand if he was in Austin. I told them "Hell no." Frankly, I would not be allowed into the room with Donald Trump, because I would be out in the streets protesting with you. I will be a part of your civil disobedience. I will go to jail with you. No nos moverán.

This is a call to action. We need each other. Together we will fight, together we will win.