‘A Human Movement’: Texas Democratic Vice-Chair Speaks to the Complexities of Protests

June 5, 2020 - Austin

By Jade Esteban Estrada - Political Columnist, San Antonio Sentinel

Dr. Carla D. Brailey, vice-chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party, believes that stories of police brutality cannot solely come from the voices of black Americans. “[They have] to come from all of us because we’re in all of this together,” she said on Monday shortly before the 2020 Texas Democratic Convention. “This movement is a human movement.” 

As a black woman in leadership, her words may carry more weight than others in the days following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was held down on the street pavement by the knee of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Because the killing has sparked outrage around the globe and has put the spotlight once again on racial issues and police reform, black perspectives have, in some circles, been asked to take center stage to begin a dialogue. It’s worth noting that Brailey is a native of Houston, which is where Floyd called home for most of his life.

“This is a pivotal point in our history, but I think it’s very important to note that this is not the first time in history that we are experiencing this,” she said. 

In fact, Brailey said that a significant lesson could be lost if people believe that issues like racism and violence began when President Donald J. Trump took office in 2017. Indeed, the Floyd tragedy was a reminder to some of the rampant violence against African Americans that occured in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in the deep South. 

As most demonstrators around the country are protesting in an effort to be heard and effect change, Brailey and other Democrats are organizing in a quest to unseat vulnerable Republicans who are part of the GOP-dominated state government.

Working long hours to bring Democrats a unique convention that will be both informative and inspiring, Brailey said that she and party staffers have “also done due diligence to ensure that the relevant issues, like gun control and vote-by-mail guidance, were highlighted on the schedule.

“That meant that some of the things that we will see this week will capture this heartbreaking, heart wrenching time we are going through,” she said through the screen.

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Brailey believes that one of the key components in moving the country forward would be to elect Democratic leaders who are dedicated to saying connected to their respective communities. “If we don’t move fast, then even more people will be harmed,” she cautioned, adding that unemployment and lack of equality in education could have lasting economic consequences. “It’s very complex, [because] it’s not just one particular issue. [But] just as the late great honorable Barbara Jordan said, ‘Education is still the key to both political and economic empowerment.’”

Brailey herself is an advocate of higher education and an expert on faith-based initiatives.

“We have the ability to be very intentional and unapologetic about demonstrating [and] modeling that we are the people’s party,” she said. To her point, the organization’s decision to have a virtual convention to prevent the spread of Covid-19 seems to demonstrate a concern for the health and well-being of their attendees. In contrast, the Texas GOP Convention, which is scheduled to take place next month at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, will be a public gathering. “As a party,” Brailey continued, “we have the opportunity to be on the side of justice, of liberty, of equality.” 

Democrats will be working hard over the next few months to educate voters about important issues so that they will hopefully cast a vote in July’s runoff and in the general election.

The goal, Brailey reminded her party members, [is] “to not only go blue, but to stay blue.”

Jade Esteban Estrada is a political columnist at the San Antonio Sentinel. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.