Activist groups plan to protest Abbott

Advocates for the homeless have planned a protest for Saturday afternoon in response to recent remarks by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott regarding suggested policy measures in Austin related to the homeless. Activist groups including Homes Not Handcuffs, Texas Appleseed, Grassroots Leadership, Austin Justice Coalition, Texas Advocates for Justice, Austin DSA and Gathering Ground Theatre plan to start the noon protest at the governor’s mansion on Colorado Street and march to the Republican Party of Texas headquarters on East Seventh Street. The groups are calling for the state to offer substantive aid and programs to help the homeless across Texas. Last month, Abbott sent a letter to Austin Mayor Steve Adler saying the city needed to implement meaningful reforms to its policies concerning homelessness, specifically rules governing where homeless people are allowed to sit and camp in public areas. Abbott gave the city until Nov. 1 – today – to make those changes before bringing in state law enforcement and other agencies to deal with the problem.