Bexar County Shuts Down Republicans

If I didn't see it on video, I wouldn't believe it.  Today on Facebook, I watched my friend Weston Martinez stand strong against the Liberal, Socialist-minded politicians in the Bexar County government.

For nearly 20 minutes, left-leaning groups, speakers talking about social justice, cultural experiences and internationalism, rallied to unify against the upcoming Republican Party of Texas State Convention in June.

One speaker, Maria Antonietta,  talked about 1968, the death of Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, the Liberation movement of Latinos, and the Democratic Convention in Chicago.

She spoke of how President Trump has offended and insulted countries, communities, the press, and individuals, and compared it to 1968.  She felt President Trump does not have our American values, and insinuated riots would occur at the upcoming Republican convention in San Antonio.

Her fear tactics, designed to move the Democratic audience to oppose the Convention, claimed she did not want the history of Chicago to repeat itself in San Antonio.  She felt San Antonio is disrespected at the highest levels.  "In San Antonio, you are not welcome," she said regarding Republicans.  "No thank you, not in San Antonio," she ended.

Another speaker, Christopher Herring, Chairman of the Texas Association of African American Chamber of Commerce, opened with this statement, "I stand with this group because in Bexar County we cannot bear to have a separation of our citizens."

He recalled when President Trump came to San Antonio, and the problems it caused.  He said there were students at McArthur High School chanting, "Build the Wall...Build the Wall!"  Herring believes President Trump is hateful, and therefore spews hateful rhetoric.

A common theme among the speakers, regarding the upcoming Republican State Convention, was Republicans were not welcome because the leader of the Republicans is not welcome, ie, Donald Trump.

After the final speaker was done, Weston Martinez, a Conservative Republican of Hispanic heritage, approached the microphone.  "Hey Tommy, do you mind if I give the other side of this story?" Weston started.  As he began to speak, most of the crowd left, except for a handful of media folks and some Democrats hanging around to hear what he would say and to hold their banners in opposition.

At that moment, a Black man approached the podium and removed the microphone, leaving Weston to raise his voice to be heard.  "You know it's ironic that we stand here today with democracy dying in Bexar County."

Weston laid out facts about the residents of Bexar County, citing over 40% for Donald Trump.  " Governor Abbott received almost 49% against Wendy Davis in San Antonio.  Do those lives not matter?"  He spoke of democracy being allowed to reign free.  Regardless of race, color, and creed.

He was heckled, spoken over and disrespected by the audience, but he continued to lay out hard facts about taxes, emergency services, and partisan politics.  "What's happening here is the Democrats are being pushed out by the Socialists.  That is what's really going on here," he ended.

Then, they turned the lights off.

Weston finished his statements in the lion's den, and he was joined by Candidate for Bexar County Republican Party Chairman, Cynthia Brehm.

With the lights off, she began to speak.  "You know what's fair...is we sat here silently and quietly as an opposing view to what is happening here today, and we didn't make snide remarks, but yet when it came time for us to speak, guess what happened? They took the microphones away, look around the room.  They turned off the lights and cleared the room.  They're trying to silence us. This city talks about unity and diversity and acceptance?  Why didn't they accept us?"

Cynthia made a passionate speech and pointed out the hypocrisy, even as she was being ridiculed by those remaining.  Bexar County obviously needs strong leadership, and it takes real courage to stand and deliver, and today these two Republicans did just that.

Weston and Cynthia, you make me proud to be a Republican!