Civil rights leader, community organizer, and criminal justice and immigration reform advocate made announcement flanked by community members and justice advocates
Austin — Bob Libal, a progressive civil rights leader nationally-renowned for his work on criminal justice and immigration reform, entered the Democratic Primary race for Precinct 2 Travis County Commissioner on Wednesday.
Libal issued the following statement:
“Travis County needs bold, progressive leadership. I’ve spent my entire life standing alongside communities impacted by the deportation and criminal justice system, and taking on powerful interests from private prison executives to ICE’s deportation forces. I’ve worked alongside our community and now I’m ready to work for them on the Commissioners Court.
We need a community-driven plan to end mass incarceration and invest in community-based solutions, not a “master plan” to spend $600 million on new jails. We need to support families and communities in need, not give tech billionaires millions in tax breaks.
We need a Travis County that works for all of us, not just the rich, powerful, and politically connected.”
Libal is the former Executive Director of Grassroots Leadership, and has worked as a community organizer and with community organizations in Travis County and around the country for nearly 20 years. Libal’s work on immigration and criminal justice issues has been nationally recognized. In 2017, he was named one of 15 people changing the nonprofit world by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2018, he was named to The Frederick Douglass 200, a project to honor the impact of 200 living individuals who best embody the work and spirit of Douglass. His work has also been featured in stories from across the country, including the New York Times, NPR, and Washington Post.
Libal is a community organizer, new father, husband, and has lived in Precinct 2 for more than 20 years. You can learn more about that campaign at BobForCommish.com.
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