ALEC is not welcome in our government, in our communities, or in our state. And this week, hundreds of activists let them know.

Progress Texas, along with a broad progressive coalition of grassroots organizations, people with disabilities, labor unions, and elected officials, held a press conference and rally outside the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, National Convention in Austin. 

This fight is not over. We will continue to hold ALEC and corporate interests responsible for their unethical dealings and efforts to bypass the will of the people.

Together, we can take back OUR Texas https://t.co/qLlBk8ZPOV#BlockALEC #txlege #ALECinATX pic.twitter.com/2ZlCDkdA7g

— Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) August 15, 2019

ALEC is a corporate “bill mill” that drafts bill templates on their corporate donors' behalf and shops them around to state legislatures across the country. It’s the shadow that follows legislators into meetings, advocating for policies that hurt our communities. These include:

• For-profit gun legislation

• For-profit immigration detention centers & prisons

• Scaling back worker protections 

• Disastrous environmental policies 

• Dangerous policies that impact our democracy

Texas Republicans are on board with this and copy ALEC's model legislation regularly. Most notably, Texas Republican Representatives Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park), Matt Shaheen (R-Plano), Jeff Leach (R-Plano), Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth), and Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler), bend to the will of ALEC, rather than representing their constituents. 

But, Texas is changing. 

Our electorate is becoming younger, and more diverse. Texans are poised to elect representatives that fight for the issues that matter to our communities in 2020, and we can do it together. 

As we build our progressive power, we need to take action – register more folks to vote, canvass our neighborhoods, talk with our friends and family. 

This is what it looks like when we come together against corporate interests and their Republican rubber stampers:

As part of protest put on by many groups, including @ProgressTX, dozens marching in front of the JW Marriott where the American Legislative Exchange Council is hosting its national meeting in Austin. Some standing outside the hotel watching. @wendydavis marching as well. #TxLege pic.twitter.com/iggtK2fe58

— Tessa Weinberg (@Tessa_Weinberg) August 14, 2019

Together, we showed ALEC that corporate interests have no place in our state, and told Texas legislators to kick out the bill mills!

This was not just because of those who could show up – it was also because of the support from the hundreds of Texans like you who signed our petition to show solidarity, donated funds to help pay for water and signs, and shared materials online to educate your communities. .

Because of us, ALEC-backed legislators are on notice. Corporate interests have no place in Texas, and we’re taking back our state. 

Please consider donating $10 today because our work isn’t done! While campaigns come and go, we continue doing the work to represent the people and drive out corporate interests like ALEC all year long.
 

For more on ALEC, please read: 

• ALEC is not welcome in Texas: Take Action Now

• ALEC funds 3 dangerous policies in Texas

• ALEC is coming to Texas. Here's why that's bad.

Find coverage of our #BlockALEC action in the media:

• Austin American-Statesman: ALEC in Austin: Conservative conference sparks protest
• Austin Chronicle: American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Protest (Photos)
• Austin Chronicle: Conservative Political Group ALEC Is Coming to Town (UPDATED) 
• Austin Chronicle: Public Notice: The Wrong Way, The Right Way

• Austin Chronicle: Behind Enemy Lines at ALEC's Right-Wing Policy Conference

• KVUE: Lawmakers from across U.S. in Austin for American Legislative Exchange Council meeting

• Truthout: Protesters Crash ALEC Conference to Resist Bill Criminalizing Pipeline Activists 

• WOAI: Corporate-funded, right-wing group ALEC shops model legislation in Austin