Chip Roy Protest

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Usually, when travelling, we'd write about the music, the art, the scenes, and the fun times we're having. Texas this year is not so much fun. 

We arrived in the US on the day Don the Con (the Commander and Thief from Mara-Lardo) was inaugurated (crowned in his imagination) — January 20. Every day since has been a barrage of WTF executive orders (edicts if he were king) that defy decency, common sense, and legality. So while we try to have some fun we are constantly aware that the house is on fire and most don't seem to be reacting. But some do, like our friends in Blanco who we first met on our Galapagos cruise (2019).

We were in San Antonio yesterday to attend a protest at the office of Rep. Chip Roy (Congressional District 21, Republican of course). This small protest was organized by our activist friends from Blanco and the Blanco County Democrats. We were in the city early to enjoy a visit to the SAMA (San Antonio Musem of Art) and lunch at the Tre Trattoria at the musem. We arrived at the protest just before 2:00pm on a cold and windy afternoon.

We met our Blanco friends who had made their signs for the protest. Wendy is the one in the pictures carrying the folded triangle vetrans flag, the vetrans cap and the sign "My Dad fought Nazis - Stop Elon"; Tammy, her partner, carries the sign "F*Elon and the FElon". There were lots of good home made signs including one that quoted extensively from Gov (Illinois) Pritzker (see below). Kate and I are carrying printed signs provided by the organizer — we took one home and proudly display it in the window of our rental in Austin. I especially liked the sign "Make Orwell Fiction Again" and the red "MAGA" hat that reads "Make that Asshole Go Away".

Chip Roy's office is inside the building where we were protesting. Many of the protestors went to his office to register their objections. Of course he wasn't there, he'd be in D.C. voting to increase the debt ceiling, slash social services, and cut taxes on the rich. We stayed outside in the wind and cold — it was only just above freezing. As Canadians we were prepared for the cold with gloves, mitts, scarves and warm clothing. Kate gave out extra mitts, Reg gave his woolen scarf to a fellow protester dressed only in a suit.

We were a small protest group — there were some young folk, and even another Canadian couple. We don't get to vote but we certainly are affected by what happens down here — e.g., the tariff wars No. 47 imagines will be a hardship for everyone — we need to protest and have every right to do so. Cars passing by were sometimes supportive (honking, waving, giving a thumbs up). One kind young woman saw our protest and returned with hot coffee to warm us. Most of the passing cars did not respond at all and I only saw one guy (in a pickup of course) roll by with his window down cursing us and giving us the finger. On balance, I think people were supportive. They'll be even more supportive when the "shit hits their fan" as is sure to happen.

At 3:00pm we all agreed to pack it in; enough of the protest. Some of us, including the Blanco gang, retired to a nearby Chuy's restaurant to warm up, talk about the current chaos, have some margarita's and noshes, and share a few chuckles. The young waitress was a treat and sympathetic to our cause. We enjoyed our margarita's and some apps. Several of us at our end of the table ordered "large" margaritas (the waitress encouraged us to order a $1 tequila bump added as it's "happy hour"; we all agreed). When she came around later to encourage those who had order regular sized margaritas to order another she pointedly said that we at the other end of the table who had ordered large ones (with a bump) were OK (i.e., we didn't have to order another drink). One of our small group picked up the tab, we all contributed to a healthy tip.

Conversations on the chaos and our woes centered around how the recent election had broken up families. The waitress tells us that she, her mom, and grandmother vote for the "right party" (which didn't get in) but the grandfather votes Republican — so they refused to take him to the polls to vote!

In all it was an interesting day ... but, remember the curse: "May you live in interesting times".

See also: 

• the full text of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's ‘State of the State' address (posted Feb 19, 2025).