Challenge Abbott’s attack on Austin’s rainbow crosswalk & Black Artists Matter

Mayor Watson, San Antonio is seeking an exemption from Abbott’s order. Our city is complying without a fight. That difference matters to us. The rainbow crosswalk at Fourth and Colorado took advocates over eight years to install. Local Black artists painted the “Black Artists Matter” mural in June 2020 through the Austin Justice Coalition and Capitol View Arts. These aren’t decorations. They’re proof that we exist and that Austin saw us. When you say we’ll “demonstrate our love for all Austinites in other ways,” you tell us our visibility is negotiable. It’s not. Abbott’s order isn’t about safety. Studies show artistic crosswalks actually reduce crashes at intersections. San Antonio has data showing only two traffic incidents in the eight years since their rainbow crosswalk was installed, compared to two incidents in the three years before. The Austin Pride Foundation said it plainly: while other cities are standing up to the governor’s discriminatory orders, Austin’s compliance sends a chilling message that our community isn’t being protected. San Antonio’s Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and their LGBTQ+ Advisory Board are fighting this. Dallas held rallies. Where is Austin’s resistance? You have options. San Antonio is requesting an exemption based on safety data. You could challenge this directive in court on First Amendment grounds. We’re calling on you to stand for us and all Austinites. We’re worried about the future under Trump and Abbott, and we’re asking you to stand with us.