Organizers of the "How Many More?" Rally today announced plans for a large gathering at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on April 29, 2023. The event aims to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis at the U.S. southern border and push state officials to take decisive action against Mexican crime cartels, seize their assets, and create a Texas Border Protection Unit through the enactment of legislation (HB 20).
Mark Meckler, President of Convention of States and a member of the How Many More coalition, emphasized the need for immediate action. “It’s time for our legislature and Governor to do everything in their power to repel the invasion at our Southern border,” Meckler said. “Washington, DC isn’t going to get the job done, and the time to end the humanitarian crisis is now.”
The rally aims to raise awareness of the dangerous consequences of the ongoing crisis, such as the influx of drugs like Fentanyl into the U.S., extensive human trafficking, and national security threats posed by the cartels and foreign terrorist organizations. According to the Colorado Attorney General's Office, fentanyl overdoses have become the leading cause of avoidable fatalities among people under 45 years of age, surpassing suicide, gun violence, and car accidents.
Several political leaders have suggested designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations. In February, 21 state attorneys general sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging them to make this designation. The Department of Justice describes the South Texas border area as "a principal drug smuggling corridor" between Mexico and the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that overdoses nationwide reached record-breaking levels in 2021, nearing 108,000 total overdose deaths, out of which more than 71,000 were fentanyl-related.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 1:00 PM CDT at the Texas State Capitol, located at 1100 Congress Avenue in Austin, TX 78701. The rally will feature special guest speakers, including U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (Texas), legendary guitarist and American activist Ted Nugent, Mark Meckler, and several Texas border residents who have been most affected by the border crisis.
General admission tickets can be registered for on the event website (www.HowManyMore.com). Media personnel are required to request media credentials by Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 5:00 PM CDT.