More than 2,000 Texans converged on the state capitol Saturday to block the Trump administration's proposal to build a steel barrier through Big Bend National Park, uniting across party lines against the project.
The rally demonstrated unusual political consensus on an issue typically fractured along partisan lines. Protesters carried signs including "No Big Bend NP Wall," "Big Love for Big Bend," and "No al Muro," the Spanish phrase for "No to the Wall."
The gathering came after the U.S. Border Patrol disclosed plans to extend the wall across portions of the park, one of Texas' most celebrated natural attractions. Organizers collected postcards from attendees to deliver to Governor Greg Abbott, who has not yet publicly stated a position on the expansion at Big Bend.
The demonstration reflects growing alarm among Texans about the environmental and cultural implications of the proposed barrier. Big Bend's status as a treasured destination for recreation and tourism appears to have mobilized residents regardless of their typical political affiliation.
Abbott's silence on the issue stands in contrast to his vocal support for border security in other contexts, signaling the delicate political territory the proposal occupies even among Republicans in Texas.
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