Austin (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West was among some 200 activists and leaders in Austin Saturday who protested outside the Texas Governor’s Mansion … the message was clear.
“No exceptions, no delays … open Texas now.”
West and others are calling for Abbott to fully reopen the state.
West read from a resolution passed overwhelmingly by the executive committee of the Texas GOP that states, among other things, that state and local governments have exercised egregious over-reach to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. West spoke of “lives shattered by Abbott’s 7-month shut down – destroyed businesses, unemployment, and the elderly in forced nursing home isolation/delayed medical care.”
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For his part, Abbott was not in Austin; he tweeted a photo and video from the Texas – OU game at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl. The game is typically one of the largest events in Dallas drawing over of 100,000 people to the metroplex annually. This year’s event was dramatically scaled down to a 25% capacity at the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park.
Always great to visit with our brave law enforcement officers. #BackTheBlue pic.twitter.com/py8nxOM5rm
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 10, 2020
What. A. Game. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/y9M4XcN0CM
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 10, 2020
Meantime, Texas on Sunday reported 2,262 new cases of the coronavirus as the state’s total since the pandemic began nears 800,000. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports 31 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 16,557. The actual number of cases in Texas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week lifted the shutdown order on bars that has been in place since June, though the reopenings are conditional on the approval of county leaders.