Texas: Telling the Real Story on SB 147

Opponents of our freedoms have pushed forward with another attack on our freedom to build a better life and community in this country. This time, certain politicians are threatening to strip Texans from buying property in the state they call home in order to divide us based on where we come from so they can maintain power and hide their refusal to fully fund the programs and services we need. Earlier this year, a Texas State Senator proposed SB 147, which would ban citizens, businesses, or other entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing land in Texas. Since then, thousands of Texas have rallied across the state to denounce SB 147.

Whether we moved here recently or many years ago, the politicians in power in our state have been trying to sow division in our communities for decades. They’ve stripped our communities of the resources we really need: healthcare, education, housing, and good jobs. They’ve passed laws to stigmatize people based on where they were born, what they look like, or what language they speak. All of this because some politicians don’t believe that all of us should be able to put down roots in our home state and build a better future for generations to come. 

Shamefully, these politicians are continuing a 20th century practice of power hungry leaders passing laws in more than a dozen states to stop Asian immigrants from owning land and property.  Now, they are ramping up their attempts to divide and distract us from the solutions we need by pushing legislation that denies us our freedoms to find safety, build better lives, and invest in the places we call home.

This message guidance has been compiled to assist groups organizing on this issue with telling a comprehensive story that not only pushes back at property bans but also drives us forward to the vision of the welcoming country we seek.