I’m back in Deceleration, unpacking the community organizing for Palestine which took place in San Marcos. I’m fascinated by them organizing both in the streets, and taking a seat on the local city council as well, thanks to lifelong resident Amanda Rodriguez, who I interviewed here:
As they raise awareness of an ongoing genocide, activists for Palestinian liberation in San Marcos are transforming local politics in their Central Texas community.
Last week, their city council became the first in Texas to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In a state where even a hint of public support for Palestine brought threats from the governor to defund vital services, getting the resolution to a vote required years of coordinated organizing from a diverse, deeply engaged community who remain passionately opposed to the unfolding horrors of the Israeli occupation.
After hearing public comments from over 100 local residents in a meeting that stretched until late at night, the council members ultimately voted 5-2 against the measure. Despite this setback, the extreme dedication of the “San Martians” who wrote the resolution — and forced the city to hear hours of public testimony in support of human rights — may offer valuable lessons to other communities about what can be accomplished even in the face of intense opposition from a powerful Republican-led state political establishment.
Palestine Solidarity SMTX first began petitioning the city council for a ceasefire resolution in 2024. To reach a formal vote in front of the full city council, the resolution required either the support of the mayor, or two sponsors from among the other seats on the council. Although Alyssa Garza, the Place 3 councilmember, was an early supporter, it failed to find that second sponsor. So Palestine Solidarity SMTX ran a candidate of their own in the 2024 election: Amanda Rodriguez, an experienced community organizer and lifelong San Marcos resident.
“I was a part of the organizers who were coming just meeting after meeting, month after month, pleading with our council people to do something, to raise some sort of alarm, to just even acknowledge the issue,” said Rodriguez, in an interview with Deceleration earlier this week.
A lot of outlets covered the vote itself, but I’m grateful to Deceleration for letting me dig a little deeper into their movement building and what they’ve achieved through working for Palestinian liberation.
