Social Justice

Social Justice

The “Animals” of McAllen PD – A History of RGV Policing

The problem of abuse within policing and the larger prison system has been a prevalent force historically. The combination of a culture of impudent behavior and complicity, and an alleged government coverup were the standout characteristics in the case of the “animals” of the McAllen PD, which garnered national attention.

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Social Justice

The ADA turns 32: Remembering Its Legacy​

One thing Juan Carlos Lopez remembers about growing up during the ’80s in McAllen, Texas, was the lack of ramps. Lopez uses a wheelchair and recalls that many of his childhood experiences were limited by the inaccessible built environment of public spaces such as parks.

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Social Justice

Get Tested! HIV in the RGV.

In 2020, the Center for Disease Control released data showing that overall HIV rates in the United States had gone down by 6%, but for Latinx people, in particular, rates increased by 14%. And while in the state of Texas, rates have usually been higher in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, the Rio Grande Valley follows right after.

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Social Justice

The Trans Crisis: South Texas Transgender Community Hopes for a Better Future

The transgender community has been oppressed by society for decades and even in 2022, the challenges they face seem unrelenting. At just the start of the year in February, Texas governor Gregg Abbott ordered that families and providers of children seeking gender-affirming care be criminalized and investigated, which was then followed by 15 other states with similar agendas.

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Social Justice

Give Transphobia the Boot, Protect Trans Youth

Trucha in support and collaboration with GENTex, RGV Trans Closet, and South Texas Equality Project (STEP) launched a campaign to “Give Transphobia the Boot and Protect Trans Youth!” Read more about the campaign and how to support!

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Social Justice

“Smart” but Harmful: The Risks and Implications of Surveillance Technologies in the U.S.-Mexico Border

For the past 16 years, federal border authorities have deployed surveillance and policing technologies along the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to “strengthen” border security. Nicknamed the “smart wall”, this digital barrier is composed of a variety of experimental tools including robot dogs, aerial drones, sensors, surveillance towers…

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Social Justice

The Fine Print: Exploring Musk’s Impact, Local Leaders’ Complacency, and the Community’s Struggle

One day, it was just there: Elon Musk’s face set against the planet Mars, looking out over downtown Brownsville like a cowboy ready to lift the Rio Grande Valley up by its bootstraps. The original commission had only asked for the red planet emblazoned with the name of the SpaceX photography show, “Boca Chica to Mars,” at the Livery Gallery next door, but adding Musk was all Pop Culture.

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