April Fools Us

The world lost a powerhouse. The Latino community lost a pioneer, icon, role model and legend. Dolores Huerta is no longer with us. Si se puede!

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April Aguirre is a victims advocate and rotating panelist on “What’s Your Point?” She is also a conservative and turned up in an ad for MAGA Gov. Greg Abbott. See the featured photo. The ad is now getting some run of sorts. See this from the Chron:

The mother of 9-year-old Arlene Álvarez, who was fatally shot in southeast Houston in 2022, is asking Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign to remove an ad about her daughter’s death because of the backlash she has received.

Wendy Álvarez said in an Oct. 26 social media post that she’s overwhelmed by the attention the ad has drawn.  

The ad features a family friend, April Aguirre, who said she became a victim’s advocate after Arlene was killed, urging voters to choose Abbott over Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa in the race for governor.

In the ad, Aguirre touts Abbott’s public safety record, and she claims Hinojosa supports public safety cuts and policies that put “criminal illegal immigrants and murderers” back on the street.

“Your family should not have to experience what mine did,” Aguirre said in the ad, which has aired on TV and streaming services.

The Abbott campaign promoted the ad in an Oct. 21 announcement, alleging that Arlene’s death was a result of “liberal policies that allow violent criminals to roam freely.” 

The ad in question has since rotated out, according to a spokesperson for Texans For Greg Abbott.

The spokesperson said that it has not had any contact or communication with Alvarez and that the ad was used with Aguirre’s permission and through her voluntary participation. 

The Chronicle reached out to Hinojosa for comment. In ads and previous comments to media, she and her campaign have rejected the Abbott campaign’s claims, accusing the governor of “prioritizing photo-ops over supporting law enforcement.”

Aguirre referred to Arlene as her niece in the ad but told the Chronicle Wednesday that she and Wendy Álvarez are life-long friends and consider each other family.

Here is he entire Chron story: Houston girl’s mother urges Abbott campaign to pull ad about her death.

I have seen the ad. It looks like a new ad is running without April showing us the picture. April fools us by saying Arlene is her niece when she isn’t. If you are going to run an ad with sensitive subject matter like a death, be honest please. I don’t have anything against April, but she could have handled this in a better manner. I don’t expect decency out of the Abbott campaign, after all, they are working for a worthless piece of sh_t.

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Typical MAGA. Typical Orlando Sanchez. See this from the Chron:

Johnny Mata, a prominent Houston civil rights advocate, said he no longer plans to vote for Orlando Sanchez after the Republican candidate for Harris County judge made a post on social media that made some believe Mata had endorsed him. 

Sanchez’s post included a quote from Mata stating he was “proud to stand with and vote for Orlando Sanchez.” Mata told the Houston Chronicle that, while he did indicate to Sanchez that he planned to vote for him, he explicitly said he was not endorsing him. 

“I said I’ll probably vote for him but after all this mess I’m not voting for him,” Mata said. “Right now I’m concentrating on getting voters out to the polls.” 

Attorney Silvia Mintz said she has since sent a cease and desist to Sanchez’s campaign on Mata’s behalf asking that he remove the post. 

Chris Beavers, a spokesperson for Sanchez, said in a statement that Mata spoke with Sanchez for roughly one hour Friday during a meeting alongside two other Latino community leaders he did not name. 

“During that conversation, Mr. Mata reiterated their decades-long friendship, their mutual support for each other, and Mr. Mata said that he would be voting for Orlando Sanchez for Harris County judge,” Beavers said. “At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Mata stood side by side with Orlando Sanchez, where they were photographed together by one of the community leaders.” 

Here is the entire Chron read: Johnny Mata won’t vote for Orlando Sanchez after endorsement dispute.

It looks like a case of campaign shenanigans. Just like in Alaska. Just like the GOP PACs supporting third parties to hurt Democratic candidates. Just like dark money operations. Everybody does it.

It doesn’t matter 5 days before the election.

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Today and tomorrow are the last two days of early voting in person.

Vote, vote! Early, early!