When Mark Meckler helped organize the Oct. 11 protest in front of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mansion last weekend, he didn’t expect to meet people from all over the state who felt strongly about re-opening the economy.
“We had people show up from every corner of the state,” Meckler, president of Convention of States, said. “They drove seven-and-a-half hours to get there by 11 a.m. They were willing to drive during the night to arrive on time. It was pretty extraordinary.”
The anti-lockdown rally was organized at 1010 Colorado Street in Austin to alert Gov. Abbott to people’s frustration about being unable to open their businesses.
“The governor is not listening to the people of Texas and I wanted to make sure that we made it loud and clear to him that there are people who are suffering and he needed to see them directly,” Meckler told the Lone Star Standard. “Everybody who is setting policy that the state should be shut down and people locked in their houses are officials who have jobs. None of them are struggling to feed their families. None of them are watching their businesses be destroyed. They are making decisions that are destroying lifetime-built businesses and family businesses. Meanwhile, they are collecting their paychecks and living in their cushy mansion.”
Meckler was joined by Lt. Col. Allen West, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, and protestors from conservative organizations, such as the True Texas Project and the Fredericksburg Tea Party, who chanted “Free Texas Now.” But Abbott did not step outside, nor did he respond in any way to the gathering outside of his home, according to media reports.
“I think he's playing politics to set himself up for a run for the presidency in 2024,” Meckler said in an interview. “He's trying to toe the line. He goes out nationally and pretends to be a very conservative freedom-oriented liberty-loving guy but in Texas, he plays differently.”
Abbott issued orders expanding capacity to 75% for retailers and 50% for bars, but only if local governments allow it.
“Right before the protest he staged something fake where he pretended everybody could open up, but what he did is absolve himself by leaving the power in the hands of the municipalities to do whatever they want and he knows they are all staying closed down,” said Meckler. “The governor has the authority to remove that power from the municipalities and he refuses to even address it.”
Meckler added that the number of COVID-19 cases is no longer an excuse.
The Texas Department of Health reports 809,808 coronavirus cases and 16,812 fatalities statewide as of Oct. 15. However, across the country, coronavirus cases are on the rise, with 44 states and the District of Columbia reporting increasing caseloads, particularly in rural areas.
"I have the utmost respect for anybody that's concerned about being exposed to COVID so take care of yourself and don't go out without a mask,” Meckler said. “Be extremely cautious and as cautious as you want to be, but don't impose that on the rest of us.”
