FREEDOM SUMMER* 2025
*Freedom Summer recalls Freedom Summer of 1964, when over 700 mostly white volunteers came to Mississippi to help African Americans register to vote While 17,000 African American MIssissippians attempted to register, only 1200 succeeded, due to the extraordinary resistance by whites But the attention that Freedom Summer brought to the civil rights movement by dedicated nonviolent volunteers may have helped convince President Lyndon B Johnson and Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
PROTESTS
The people of San Antonio have a long history of multiculturism That history makes it instinctive for us to stand together. In that spirit, San Antonio has been a leader in staging No KIngs protests with thousands of San Antonians coming together to demand justice for all and to show our disapproval of the authorian actions of the Trump and Abbot administrations.
Protest schedule
WE THE PEOPLE--JULY 5, 10 AM TO 1 PM, TRAVIS PARK
The next big MONTHLY protest will be held July 5 in solidarity with the national movement called 50501--”50 States, 50 Protests, 1 Day-calling for patriots across the nation to resist the tyranny and authoritarinism of the Trump administration in peaceful protests San Antonio’s June 14 protest drew upwards of 10,000 people in a nonviolent protest that was commended by SAPD and the Mayor of San Antonio for being peaceful and well managed. 50501 and its local San Antonio Partners are looking for more participants and more organizers: As the numbers grow, the pressure grows on government 50501 protests will occur monthly for the duration. We need to build a bigger crowd each time ENGAGE YOUR FRIENDS Stay tuned to Mobilize for announcements of dates and times
If you’d like to learn more or volunteer to help organize these events, contact marthakspinks@gmail com
Other actions
ONGOING EVENTS,
MULTIPLE VENUES TBA
Bexar County Democrats have a dedicated Rapid Response Team that builds coalitions with other organizations and groups and works in solidarity with them to increase the turn out at protests, press conferences, forums, and other opportunities to make the people’s voices heard These events may be planned in advance or they may occur on short notice to react to overreach by the Trump or Abbott administrations. If you would like to participate, sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/bexardemocrat/event/784254/ to be notified of these events. Our team also teaches people how to write letters to representatives and newspapers, and we will come to speak to your group about what we are doing and how you can join in. We also may be able to consult with you on organizing your own community group or protest. To inquire, contact marthakspinks@gmail com
Travis Park “No Kings’ Protest, June 14, 2025
Main Plaza “Hands Off” Protest, April 19, 2025
Protest, Senator John Cornyn’s Office, June 20, 2025
C O M M U N I T Y
We are part of an historical movement to throw off tyranny and demand to be a free people governed by our Constitution--not the whims of any elected official. In order to stand together, we must get together. We build community by having fun. We build community by making a conscious effort to learn about each other, and by celebrating the rich features of each other’s cultures--which is fun. Part of your basic training in fighting tyranny is to get out there and make new friends.
F U N
JUNE 6 TO AUGUST 3, 8:30 P.M. FIESTA NOCHE DEL RIO. IN LA VILLITA’S ARNESON RIVER THEATRE EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT FROM JUNE 6TH TO AUGUST 3RD AT 8:30 P M BUY TICKETS AT HTTPS://WWW FIESTANOCHESA COM/
JUNE 26, 6-8 PM. THE FIRST BEXAR DEMOCRATS WEEKLY ICE HOUSE CRAWL. HTTPS://WWW.MOBILIZE.US/BEXARDEMOCRAT/EVENT/806389/
JUNE 28, 9 AM-7 PM. PRIDEFEST AND PARADE WITH SAN ANTONIO'S PRIDE BIGGER THAN TEXAS.
HTTPS://WWW.MOBILIZE.US/MOBILIZE/EVENT/804255/
TUESDAYS, 10-11 AM HEMISFAIR’S WEEKLY STORY TIME IN YANAGUANA GARDEN, BEHIND THE HEMISFAIR PRIVATE OFFICES AT 630 E NUEVA STREET.BOOK OF THE WEEK AND STEAM-RELATED ACTIVITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY. HTTPS://ALLEVENTS.IN/SAN-ANTONIO/STORYTIME-AT-HEMISFAIR/200028291780221
JULY 4, 11 AM TO 9:30 PM, SAN ANTONIO'S OFFICIAL 4TH OF JULY SPECTACULAR, THE ALAMO, HOUSTON STREET, AND MORE. HTTPS://WWW.VISITSANANTONIO.COM/EVENT/4TH-OF-JULYCELEBRATION/5390/
JULY 5, 7:00PM-9:00PM, READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE PREAMBLE AT A COFFEE HOUSE, PLUS SLAM POETS WHO'LL BE SPITTING SOME POEMS ON WHAT THESE DOCUMENTS MEAN.
HTTPS://WWW.MOBILIZE.US/BEXARDEMOCRAT/EVENT/804366/
TH
SEPTEMBER 1, NOON TO 3 PM, 26 ANNUAL NORTH EAST BEXAR COUNTY DEMOCRATS LABOR DAY PICNIC GET TICKETS AT HTTPS://SECURE ACTBLUE COM/DONATE/2025LDP
Fiesta Noche del Rio, Arneson River Theater
Woodlawn Lake 4 of July th
This Juneteenth, more than ever, is a moment to celebrate but also a time to recommit to the struggle The threats to truth, education, and equality are real From right-wingers openly calling for repeals of the Civil Rights Act, to Silicon Valley billionaires cheering on Trump’s regression so they can dump their DEI pledges, it’s clear we need both vigilance and action....Black history is American history....truth-telling is not divisive.... fighting for justice is patriotic. And the best way to honor Juneteenth is to celebrate Black joy and show up in solidarity, whether that’s supporting local events, subscribing to Black creators, or simply refusing to stay silent
~Khalil Greene
C U L T U R E
MONTH OF JUNE GAY PRIDE CELEBRATION
A MONTH OF FUN, ENTERTAINMENT AND POLICY & LIFESTYLE PANELS HTTPS://SALGBTCHAMBER COM/EVENTS/CALENDAR
JUNE 28, 9 AM-7 PM PRIDEFEST AND PARADE WITH SAN ANTONIO'S PRIDE BIGGER THAN TEXAS
HTTPS://WWW.MOBILIZE.US/BEXARDEMOCRAT/EVENT/804255/
JUNE 27, 2025 7-8:30 PM RESISTANCE & JOY: RECLAIMING POWER. A CURATED COLLECTION OF POWERFUL SHORT DOCUMENTARIES ALL DIRECTED BY FILMMAKERS OF COLOR. FROM CULTURAL PRESERVATION TO POLITICAL RESISTANCE, THESE STORIES SHOWCASE THE WAYS PEOPLE ORGANIZE, RESIST OPPRESSION, AND WORK TOWARD CHANGE RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKET AT HTTPS://KINEMA COM/EVENTS/BLOCK2:-RECLAIMING-POWER-A1WEXA
JULY 9-13, 2025 46TH CINEFESTIVAL SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO'S ORIGINAL LATINX FILM FESTIVAL
HTTPS://46CINEFESTIVAL EVENTIVE ORG/WELCOME?
GA=2.190277868.610681435.1750544034892182352.1750385804
JULY 12, 2025 SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHIVE MUSEUM NEGRO MOTORIST GREEN BOOK CIVIL RIGHTS TOUR HTTPS://SAAACAM.ORG/EVENT/SAAACAM-GREEN-BOOKCIVIL-RIGHTS-BUS-TOUR-3/
JULY 9-13, 2025 SAN ANTONIO BLACK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 'SUNDAY GLORY' MONTHLY MOVIE MATINEES AT THE CARVER LIBRARY FEATURING ORIGINAL BLACK INDEPENDENT FILMS, FOLLOWED BY A COMMUNAL DISCUSSIONWITH THE FILMMAKER(S), OR OCCASIONAL PANEL TALKS. #SABIFF2025
ONGOING, BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM SHARES THE STORIES OF THE COWBOY, THE VAQUERO, NATIVE AMERICANS THROUGH ART AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. AS THE CULTURE SHIFTS, SO DOES THE INTERPRETATION OF WESTERN ART, BUT THE STORIES REMAIN THE SAME.HTTPS://BRISCOEMUSEUM.ORG/
ONGOING, ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER MUSIC, ARTS AND HISTORY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://ESPERANZACENTER.ORG/OUR-SPACES/
ONGOING, THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF SAN ANTONIO. HTTPS://WWW.HMMSA.ORG/
Briscoe Western Art Museum