Day 21: From The Alamo To The Plantation, A Lesson In Bad Theater

How racist meltdowns and colonial cosplay took center stage in the Texas House.

As planned yesterday, the State House gaveled in for a short time, and as expected, the typical far-right bad actors showed up ready to cause drama. But on day 21 of the 140-day session, several members thought it would be productive to spew their racism on their Black colleagues.

It all started when Brian Harrison (R-HD10), who appears to be the ring leader of this gaggle of clowns, went to the front mic to complain about the long weekend (again). He called the House rules “The Democrat Empowerment Act.” You know, the House rules that took away chairmanships from Democratic House members. Check it out:

Harrison loves the sound of his own voice. He and his posse voted against the extended weekend. That includes these members:

We need a name for this crew that sticks (like the Gilead Wives Club). I say this because the SREC (State Republican Executive Committee) met Monday night to pass a resolution thanking them for voting for David Cook for Speaker over Dustin Burrows, and in that meeting, they called this crew “Alamo Republicans.”

How offensive is that? It’s a slap in the face to every Texan.

The Alamo symbolizes sacrifice, resistance against tyranny, and the fight for freedom. These so-called “Alamo Republicans” aren’t fighting for liberty or freedom. They’re pushing authoritarian, regressive policies aimed at silencing opposition, including restricting voting rights, attacking marginalized communities, and demonizing democratic processes. Plus, about 75% of them aren’t even from Texas.

So yeah, the name is offensive because it’s historically inaccurate and a brazen attempt to manipulate the symbolism of one of Texas’s most revered landmarks for political theater.

If the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) wants to refer to them as the “Alamo Republicans,” we need a name for them, too. Let’s decide together:

It should be noted that this is the exact resolution that the Senate voted on. The Senate voted on the long weekend first.

Harrison’s tirade over the long weekend wasn’t even the worst thing they did yesterday.

On Sunday night, Beyoncé, a Houston native, won a Grammy for Best Country Album. Several Democrats, mainly from Houston, passed a resolution congratulating Beyoncé.

At the end of the members’ short speeches, Speaker Burrows asked, “The question occurs on the adoption of the resolution. Is there any objection? The chair hears none. The resolution is adopted.”

When he asked, “Is there any objection?” a man screaming could be heard in the background. Burrows seemingly ignored it, but the side-eye he gave was telling.

Resolutions are rarely objected to in the Texas House because they are ceremonial and non-binding. Members typically recognize achievements or express congratulations, condolences, or opinions. However, they generally follow an unspoken rule: they allow these feel-good resolutions to pass without objection to maintain decorum and efficiency.

When someone objects, especially with a loud, dramatic outburst, it’s seen as a breach of tradition, drawing negative attention to the objector rather than the resolution’s content. That’s why Speaker Burrows’ reaction with the side-eye was so significant. It signaled how unusual and inappropriate the behavior was.

Who was it? Shouting out against a congratulatory resolution to Beyoncé?

If you guessed Brian Harrison, you would be right.

According to the Quorum Report, Harrison and Nate Schatzline (R-HD93), both white, confronted Black lawmakers over their resolution. 

And it was caught on video… sort of.

This was a far-out view from the camera up in the gallery:

I know it’s hard to see what’s going on because many people are moving around. Here is a zoomed-in view, but it’s blurry.

Here’s what happened:

• Lauren Simmons (D-146) stands with Harrison, Schatzline, and David Lowe (R-HD91). The conversation appears tense.

• Nicole Collier (D-HD95) walks over from the top of the screen.

• From the bottom, Rhetta Bowers (D-HD113) walks fast to the commotion.

• Christian Manuel (D-HD22) follows Bowers closely.

• Simmons walks away from the group, making hand motions that appear she is upset.

It appears to be blatant racism. Brian Harrison, Nate Schatzline, and David Lowe, three white lawmakers, felt the need to confront Black legislators over a simple congratulatory resolution honoring Beyoncé, a Houston native and one of the most celebrated artists of our time. Let that sink in for a second.

We’re not talking about a policy debate here. We’re talking about a resolution congratulating a Black woman for winning a Grammy. Resolutions like this are routine and uncontroversial unless you’re a white Republican who feels threatened by Black excellence. I mean, what exactly were they so upset about? Did Beyoncé’s achievement personally offend them? Did they not like her winning a country Grammy? Or are they just triggered by any celebration of Black success that doesn’t come with a side of “All Lives Matter?”

Harrison and his buddies weren’t just objecting quietly in protest either. They were loud and disruptive, causing a scene and ensuring everyone knew how they felt about recognizing a Black cultural icon. This was about three white men asserting their dominance and reminding their Black colleagues that any expression of Black pride, joy, or achievement would be met with hostility. It’s racist, plain and simple.

Maybe we should just cut to the chase and name them the “Whitehood Caucus.”

To top it all off, Laredo House members also passed a resolution yesterday celebrating colonialism.

You may be shocked if you are unfamiliar with this festival and are not from Laredo or the surrounding area. Once a year, white and Hispanic debutants dress up as Indigenous Americans and perform the Princess Pocahontas Pageant, celebrating colonialism and George Washington’s birthday.

It’s been going on for well over 100 years now. It’s not only bizarre that it’s still happening today, but the more you learn about it, the more offensive it becomes. Yet, these week-long festivities in Laredo bring in thousands of people from surrounding areas (and it’s been a good source of revenue for the area).

Laredo is the only city in America that celebrates the birthday of the enslaver and human trafficker George Washington with a parade and week-long festivities.

Why Pocahontas? The true story of Pocahontas is horrific if you are unfamiliar with it. Her real name was Amonute, and when she was 15 or 16 years old, she was kidnapped, raped, had a child stolen from her, and then at the age of 20, murdered. It was white colonizers who did this to her.

During Laredo’s Princess Pocahontas Pageant, young debutants dress up as Pocahontas and Indigenous Americans and parade on stage. None of the young people who wear these costumes are Indigenous Americans. They are white and Latina. The outfits they wear typically cost between $5,000 and $50,000, and they never depict Comanches, Apaches, or other tribes with actual ties to Mexican Americans. Instead, the dresses are fantasy knockoffs of the Onondaga, the Tlingit, and similar faraway groups with no historical connection to border life.

Yesterday in the House, they passed a resolution recognizing Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association of Laredo, who appeared in their pageant costumes.

Several years ago, I spoke with the Webb County Heritage Foundation, which told me that the area’s Indigenous Community has opposed these festivities. The real Pocahontas was a victim of colonization, not a beauty queen.

The history of colonization in America is a history of genocide and the displacement of Indigenous communities. Colonization will always be equated to genocide. Celebrating colonization in the 21st century is horrific and disturbing.

Texas lawmakers should be focused on real issues facing our state, not wasting time on petty racist tantrums or offensive displays of outdated colonial pageantry.

Yet, here we are. These “Alamo Republicans” posture as defenders of freedom and tradition, but their version of tradition is rooted in white supremacy and patriarchy.

We need to call this out for what it is. Texas deserves better than these bad actors hijacking our government to indulge their bigoted grievances. If they want to keep clinging to outdated, oppressive ideals, maybe we should stop sugarcoating things and give them a name that reflects that. Karen Caucus? Brainworm Brigade? Dunn’s Militia? I’ll let y’all vote on it. But one thing is clear: this session is off to a rotten start, and Texans must pay attention.

While they distract us with their theatrics, the real work of oppressing marginalized communities, gutting public resources, and dismantling democratic protections continues in the shadows.

• February 7: Left In Texas Podcast w/ Representative Vikki Goodwin

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

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