As Founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, I feel compelled to comment on TCRP’s current situation. In the
26 years I oversaw the Project, we had nothing but strong support from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation
(TAJF) and the state Supreme Court, along with their funding assistance. In fact, funding steadily increased
over the years. As the record shows, we handled all kinds of hard-hitting, controversial cases across Texas.
People may not have agreed with us, but we won their respect. Not once did we face political retaliation for
our work, no matter how contentious it was. I always respected that of TAJF and the Court. It’s unfair that
TCRP now accuses them otherwise.
TCRP is no longer tied to the state’s local communities as it was and no longer takes its litigation cue from
the people it should serve. Since last year, not only has TCRP cut away its statewide grassroots, but has
begun to transform itself into an Austin-focused policy and legal program. It lost its funding from TAJF
because it moved away from providing direct basic civil legal services to disadvantaged Texans across the
state, including victims of domestic violence, veterans, and the elderly.
In fact, the current executive director had already been trying to divest TCRP of its Violence Against Women
Act (VAWA) program before the TAJF cut. How much more community-based can you be than to help immigrant
family victims of domestic violence? TAJF redirected the funding, which TCRP lost, to other legal aid
providers. TCRP’s well-respected VAWA program and staff in south and west Texas, for example, were
transferred to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. What Texans have lost, however, is a vigorous community-based human
rights voice across the state.
Whether the current administration of TCRP has the right to change priorities away from the community, as set
out in its charter and by-laws, is an issue its board has to decide; but it should be honest
about the consequences of its choice and not blame the people who were stalwart benefactors of TCRP for 26
years. It breaks my heart to see this happen to an organization to which so many people dedicated so many
years of hard work, modest salaries, and sleepless nights.
Eleanor Roosevelt was famous for reminding us that all human rights are local; and, unless we organize to
vindicate them locally, they have no meaning elsewhere. This is where TCRP had been and to where it should
return. Every one of us wants TCRP to succeed for the sake of the community.
Jim
James C. Harrington