New Braunfels MLK Association Asks City to Take Action on ‘Trump Train’
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The president of the New Braunfels MLK Association is asking the City of New Braunfels to move swiftly and place some restrictions on the New Braunfels Trump Train, which gained notoriety Sept. 3 after a member of its 400-car convoy dragged a Black Lives Matter flag underneath his truck during the procession, which wound its way through town for several hours, horns blaring, participants cheering loudly for President Donald Trump.
In both a Facebook post on Sunday and in a letter to members of his organization, Bishop Michael Franklin said the ramifications of displays and acts of racism by some of the participants in the Trump Train threaten “the very fiber of our community’s peace and safety.”
He urged members of his group to remain decent and orderly, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy.”
“I encourage all of our supporters to remain steadfast and unmovable in our efforts to make a difference within our community regardless of the demeaning behavior of others,” Franklin said in his statement.
The newly created New Braunfels diversity council is expected to meet later this week, according to member Dr. Jessica Edwards, who is black and has spoken out publicly against the Trump Train.
The New Braunfels Trump Train, which started out “very small” three months ago, according to organizers, kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays from the parking lot of the Creekside shopping center, located at I-35 and FM 306. The event is so popular that hundreds of participants gather to set up tens, pray, socialize, sell flagpoles, distribute maks, say the pledge of allegiance and play the national anthem before heading out to drive around the city.
The Comal County Republican Party even conducted a voter-registration drive on Sept. 3.
Critics of the event say too many people are milling around the parking lot, shouting racial slurs and drinking.
Organizer Steve Ceh said in an earlier interview that complaints the city received about the Trump Train’s behavior as it winds through New Braunfels are false.
“Everyone is behind us,” he said in an interview last week. “The liberals will always lie and exaggerate everything.”
In a text posted to the Living Blue in Comal County Facebook page this morning, New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno informed a New Braunfels resident that the city does not consider the Trump Train a car club and is meeting with organizers to discuss routes, concerns and complaints received from the public, adherence to traffic laws, and enforcement and protection of public safety.
Last week, New Braunfels City Council Member Matthew Hoyt, who is in charge of District 4, where the convoy takes place, said although the behavior of some of the Trump Train’s members is disturbing, the city cannot act because the convoy of cars stops at lights and qualifies as a procession, not a parade.
Parades require a permit from the city.
To read coverage of last week’s parade, click HERE and HERE. To read an op-ed by New Braunfels physician Dr. Jessica Edwards, who is Black, click HERE.
Editor’s Note: Organizers say there will be no Trump Train this Thursday. The group plans to gather in the downtown plaza area to show its support for the Trey Gowdy event at the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center.
According to the civic center’s website, the former U.S. congressman will invite attendees to consider various points of view.
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All lives matters. Every individual has the right to better themselves. Some choose to let their environment persuade their decisions and blame the society for their downfalls.
We cant let one bad apple spoil the whole batch. We must stand up for what we believe in and take pride in what we stand . It shouldn’t matter if you are blue or red. We need to come together and make this the country, we are all part of,
The Best Country in the World!
So remember, Dont Hate
My daily walk routine unfortunately takes me along the route of this train route even before I knew that it was actually a thing! (We avoid it now) We got caught in the middle of it going and coming, we did not encourage or respond to several vehicles passing us, waved or cheered along we just kept to our selves, but our lack of enthusiasm towards their display of support for a candidate that I don’t support was met with hackling and calling of names and the such. To our unfortunate timing we received the same treatment on our way back. They say that because we don’t support this activity we are liberals but it’s quite the contrary, my political and religious views are not extreme in either direction, I have voted for both parties all of my adult life, I find it much more rewarding to vote for a candidate that supports my ideology and is trustworthy, even if they make bad decisions during their term they own up to it. I did find the hacking and name calling by some of the participants discouraging, intimidation to line up with them or pay consequences, but most of all I found it to be un New Braunfels. As for following traffic laws they don’t, they speed up to catch up and not one made a complete stop at the stop sight at Gruene Rd and Gruene Lake.
The Trump Train is designed to intimidate and provoke a reaction. Not one thing they demonstrate and flash in your face would change a voters mind and certainly they are brainwashed to the point that not a single Train Member would have the courage to change their mind about Trump less their brothers in arms would clobber them and sentence them to hell. I would rather be labeled a Marxist any day over a Neo Nazi and believe me the next time you see these yahoos they’ll be wearing brown shirts and goose stepping around. What I recommend for these people is to quite riding around in your stupid trucks disturbing the peace and read a book for the first time in your life starting with The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer followed by the Bible that you tout but have never read. Believe me Joseph Goebbels would love these conformists.
Spiritual, moral, civil. We’re all excusing our behavior(fears, disbelief and hatred). Deep rooted hatred that will destroy everything we know. It is worse than morbidity and racism is a disease that spreads through generations. Talks of bad apples; and all this word salad for what? (Some)who are using words such as Red State. You (Some) wouldn’t admit it, but you would “love” one particular group of human beings to not exist. God isn’t like this. What rhetoric can any of you here use without the sake of proving yourselves, can glue the souls together? Yet I have to watch Armageddon play from my porch when I fought in the war. A true war mind you. Do I have to use those skills here at (home) on American soil to defend my life regarding my skin color or political beliefs? Yet we’re here about to suffer a modern day holocaust, genocide, murder and ignorance and we welcome it. Pride and prejudice you are sickness. You will vomit in your mouth and shout “I’ll die before I vote democrat” you say, death before I genuinely love a black person you say, death before you guys ever believe that we are all equal you say. You guys rather get your guns out!!and instead of honking horns, there will be guns you’ll be shooting in the air with a couple of dead ones dragging like “just married” does this make you laugh. Dreams of hanging us. Strange fruit. Everyone is so confused, please God please help us all. Looting and burning is wrong. It’s ignorant I agree with you maga folks..So is shooting someone 7 times in the back, or suffocating a man on a camera phone, oh and last but not least dragging that flag. Why don’t you guys police them boys up. The dragging of the (Black Lives Matter) flag indicates that your group represent acts of terrorism or a terrorist group as well.
United we ( the people) stand,
Divided we fall. The present federal level, political system is sadly lacking in the representation of “we the people” . 2 wings, same dirty bird. The taxpayer is much more effective & recognized on the local level. Nice move by NB vity council to investigate & negotiate these highly, emotionally charged & media driven politico happenings. Peace on earth & 1 Love.
Really, each side is as bad as the other when it comes to one-sided opinions and flawed views of history. It is really sad we have been reduced to this. We have to stop worrying about the past and figure out how to conprimise on a way move forward while respecting both sides rights and liberties. It will take a real leader which neither side has been able to produce in quite some time.
Being a mixed race beautiful, individual, I’m so thankful that I don’t live in New Braunfels. Little do any of you know, whether you are Black, White, Indian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc., none of you will live long enough to see the beauty of eveyone coming together. Reasons being is that everyone is so damn hateful of each other. No matter what race, everyone is afraid of two words…”what if.”
How embarrassing riding around in a truck dragging a BLM flag. Talk about childish and immature. Glad my daughter wasn’t there to see such stupidity.
MLK also said his dream is that one day a man will be judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character. This is exactly the opposite of what BLM promotes. BLM promotes race first. This front for Marxism promotes we look at race as the motivating factor and determining factor in all circumstances. And they want not less of that but more!!
Just vote! And, as the Bible says, treat others as you would have them treat you! Remember, the Bible says nothing about treating anyone different due to their skin color…..
Amen!
Do you realize that about 80% or more of your summer visitors are Trump Supporters?? Don’t be stupid and shoot yourself in the foot and lose your business because someone’s feelings got hurt. MAGA 2020!!!
Is that a fact? Interesting statistic. Sources?
Where were this group when were and currently burning the American Flag which stands for all Americans Black, White, Spanish, Indian or Asian. Why didnt their group publish something about stopping this. BLM has been rubbing people that care the wrong way and when a few want to show support of Trump they start whining. I was taught an eye for an eye, if you dont want paybacks then dont start something you cant handle.
They were enslaved the first 250 some odd years of this countries existance and then after that we had a civil deciding wether or not they were property then, they were systematically oppressed and denied access to the same rights the rest of us americans enjoy while bearing all of the costs that the rest of do for things like taxes, military service and while providing the labor that this country was built on… So if you wanna have this conversation maybe you should think about your comment before someone has to educate on things you should have already learned
That’s why there’s so much stupid racism mess in the world especially the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA because of Eye for an Eye!!!!!! STOP!!!!!!! Let me say this H No! BLM should never burn our American Flag at all!!!!! And Trump Train shouldn’t be dragging a Black Flag underneath a truck as if they were dragging a Black Person JUST LIKE THEY USED TO DO!!!!!!! My Grandfather is a Frenchman and my Grandmother is half black and white…..we are Creoles…..and both of them are discussed by this! STOP!!!!!!!
We need to come together and stop trying to defend the indefensible. People of many background get the imagery of the dragging the flag behind the truck. Mr. Byrd’s death was all over the news. Did I miss some New Braunfels flag burning? I keep seeing that false equivlency mentioned. I as a moderate who hates racism also honor the flag.
Don’t let this group to discourage or intimidate the Trump Train. Why didn’t this group denounce BLM group when they were for frying cops like bacon. Trump Train is hurting no one. I’m from San Marcos and I would be proud to join the NB Trump Train. Mary E Gonzales
Your right because trumps supporters are so “oppressed”… Who stopped them from carry assault rifles into state governments buildings in virgina and michigan???who stopped the ones the that ran around in north carolina when they came out with tiki torches screaming “you will not replace us…” What about the militia nutjobs that run around shoot people that are asking cops not to shoot them simply because there black… You need to check your white privledge at the door and get your head out of your ass
I can not believe that a flag that happens to be black was dragged underneath a truck symbolizing dragging a black person. If this isn’t terrible I don’t know what it is. And the fact that we as blacks we live in the same community of this mess and shop where it kicked off at. I will not say terrible things about any political party no matter who I vote for. I will however exercise my right to vote. THIS IS AWFUL!!!!
Do hate the Player , not the game
Jesse and Al are on the way..
My Goodness just look at the Division that has been generated, when will we as a nation of people come together and stop making it a Them and Us; Democratic and Republican; White or Black? We will not always agree but we can at least respect and agree to disagree? Whatever happened to “Love Ye One another as I have loved you?” That one verse is full of compassion, understanding., forgiveness and Love? Wake up people and recognize that there is something bigger than ourselves that is driving and fueling this behavior. Ask yourselves; Would our actions promote unity or Division?
Jesse and Al are clearing their schedules..
Keep Texas Red , TRUMP 2020 🇺🇲 I would love to be back in My beautiful home state to cheer Our amazing President on . MAGA all day , every day !!!
Jenifer Miller: you are a such a racist idiot!
Is the city permitted to act on public intoxication and people shouting at the public? Would the Trump paraders be willing to peacefully stand by and allow Biden or BLM supporters to block traffic and yell out things about them? Something to think about.
This is shameful and these people are ridiculous. Have some dignity and support Trump but not like this. You’ll look like like dumb yahoos.
BLM is NOT about Black Lives. It is a self proclaimed Marxist Communist organization who funnels over half of their donations to the DNC!
Also the Communist Association of America’s has endorsed Biden because the Democrats ideology and policies align with theirs. So if you are supporting Democrats you are essentially declaring yourself to be a Communist and you want the USA to be turned into a Communist country. Then no one, Democrat or Republican will have Free Speech!
As a person who was a McCain Republican, I’ll just post this reminder that Joe Biden is a centrist Democrat and not a far left bogeyman.
@ Jennifer Miller;I’m one of the two black people that live in Canyon Lake….And am not a supporter of the BLM movement– not because I dont believe police brutality and profiling of black people doesn’t exist– ihave experienced it but because I dont agree with the movement’s approach.If this didn’t happen as Dr.Edwards portrays,what did?
So what race is everyone else in the article? You only single out one person.
As a member of the Trump Train, I can testify that NONE of these allegations are true. No one drinks, no one displays racism or hatred. We are polite, we obey the law and we DO NOT react to the hatred and the foul language we sometimes receive.
I regret the action of that one individual but nobody at MLK suggests that we ban BLM because they burn American flags and burn dow neighborhoods.
In the contrary, the LEFT pretends that it’s not even happening.
RUH ROH!! I sure hope visits from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton ain’t in our future.
Are you against all violence or just violence that owns the libs? It would be powerful for the right to condemn the alt right violence (murders, etc) as well.
Don’t let the evil of Democrats win . It’s beyond tine to stand up for our rights.
Your right how dare the 5 black people in a town like new braunfels asks the city to regulate and monitor a group of people ago that tend to have white nationalist in thier numbers and have created situations where innocent people tend to die while there spouting hate… Your right god forbid new braunfels not be in the news for having those death a occur here….
New Braunfels Trump Train has created situations where people tend to die? Please expound upon that. I ride every Thursday with them in a peaceful show of support.
I move to monitor and shut down the MLK group because they may have one bad apple in their group. I witnessed an individual of color cause an accident in our Trump Train by hanging out the window and screaming obscenities at the group which at the time did not have the participant they are complaining about.
The person who did that in our group was not condoned by our group and it has been addressed. These so called people of diversity want to label us all by one bad apple. This makes them hypocrites. One idiot does not represent us all! What is the real reason they want to silence us? Why don’t they come and talk to us to see who we really are? Don’t condemn us, come and understand us. We don’t hate you, we don’t care what color your skin is. We are however offended you stereotype us and then complain about how you are treated. Get rid of your hate and talk to your neighbors. You might find we are not that different.
Mike, read the post right above his comment. Puts it in the proper context
If I had the money last week, my wife and I would have been there. I like him. I’m also glad the Trump Train is meeting down town. Let’s all show our support for the President of the USA.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣what a joke!!! Haters of trump will always find someway to ruin the trump train and that’s exactly what they are doing! Quit lumping them as a whole! Thanks
I’m one of the two black people that live in Canyon Lake…😒 Though I don’t believe in the the BLM movement’s tactics being subjected to racial profiling on more than one occasion by the police ,I do believe brutality exists albeit with a minority of “bad apple” officers.Not all blacks view things monolithically as it’s mistakenly thought by many whites.But I’m curious.If this did not happen as Dr.Edwards claims,what did???Were you there?
This overt racism brings me to tears. Dragging the BLM flag (reminiscent of Jasper) was the last straw.
That’s not what happened at all. People will continue to make up stories…its sad everyone believes this garbage being spewed.
Funny how freedom of speech is wanting to be silenced by the Demoncrats