Luci Baines Johnson honors Texas Democrats in Dallas with award in father’s memory

July 16, 2022 Dallas News Comments Off on Luci Baines Johnson honors Texas Democrats in Dallas with award in father’s memory 126 Views

Luci Baines Johnson delivered impassioned remarks on voting rights and the legacy of her father, former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, on Friday at the Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas.

Johnson, 75, presented the Lyndon B. Johnson Lifetime Service award to members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, who broke quorum last year to block an elections bill they said would make it more difficult to vote. The bill eventually passed and was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Johnson, whose father signed the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, was present last summer at rallies in Washington in support of voting rights legislation.

Later in the evening, state Sen. Carol Alvarado of Houston referred to how she invoked the former president’s memory to make it through a 15-hour filibuster last year to block the elections legislation.

Johnson spoke of attending the Texas Democratic Convention 54 years ago, as a 21-year-old, and of being part of the Democratic Party her whole life.

Surrounded by members of the House Democratic Caucus on stage, Johnson said democracy is being threatened.

“Today we are surrounded by crisis,” Johnson said. “The war in Ukraine that threatened democracy abroad, and a war of cultures in America that is threatening democracy at home.”

“Luci Baines Johnson just went from bringing the heat to bringing me to tears,” Tex Morgan, a former candidate for land commissioner, said in a tweet.

Luci Baines Johnson just went from bringing the heat to bringing me to tears at the #TXDems22

— Tex Morgan (@tex_morgan) July 16, 2022

This week, Johnson penned an op-ed in the Austin American-Statesman in support of gun control.

Texas has some of the weakest gun laws in the country,” she wrote. “We have endured countless tragedies due to them. That’s why I’m standing with my fellow Texans to say enough is enough.

“Most Texans agree, we need stronger gun safety laws. It’s time for our state leaders to follow the will of the Texas people and not the gun lobby.”

1/99Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke (right) listens to the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, at Jaxon Beer Garden in Downtown Dallas. Beto was taking photos with supporters following his speech at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention general session at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

2/99Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee (right) looks at Steve Fox’s photos of his son at the Juneteenth memorial in Galveston during a convention after-party at Jaxon Beer Garden in Downtown Dallas. Lee was there with Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke who was taking photos with supporters following his speech at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention general session at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

16/99Outgoing U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas (center) is recognized with the Texas Democrats Trailblazer Award by Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa before she spoke during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (left) as U.S. Representative Al Green of Houston appeared on stage with them.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

17/99Outgoing U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas (second from right) delivers her speech during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Joining her onstage is Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa (left) Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett, U.S. Representative Al Green of Houston and U.S. Representative Marc Veasey.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

18/99Outgoing U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas (second from right) recognizes Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (second from left) as she speaks during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa (left) and U.S. Representative Al Green of Houston appeared on stage with them.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

29/99Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner was recognized with the Texas Democrats President Lyndon B. Johnson Lifetime Service Award by Luci Baines Johnson. Turner led Democrats out of Texas when voting rights were under attack in Austin. He spoke to delegates and guests during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

30/99Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner was recognized with the Texas Democrats President Lyndon B. Johnson Lifetime Service Award by Luci Baines Johnson. Turner led Democrats out of Texas when voting rights were under attack in Austin. He spoke to delegates and guests during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

34/99During a Q&A game, Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (center) reacts with her answer after being asked if they’d ever cussed out a Republican during a panel discussion at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 35 candidate Greg Casar (left) and U.S. House Texas District 15 candidate Michelle Vallejo (right) show their answers as well. Former presidential candidate Julián Castro moderated the kickoff-off reception event.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

39/99Wearing Ranchers for Beto cowboy hats, Sandy Emmons of Waxahachie, Texas and her husband Andy Don Emmons wait in line to meet Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke at his 2022 Texas Democratic Convention booth at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Beto is expected to be the main speaker during the general session later in the night.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

64/99During a Q&A game, Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (center) reacts with her answer after being asked if they’d ever cussed out a Republican during a panel discussion at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 35 candidate Greg Casar (left) and U.S. House Texas District 15 candidate Michelle Vallejo (right) show their answers as well. Former presidential candidate Julián Castro moderated the kickoff-off reception event.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

65/99During a Q&A game, Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (center) reacts with her answer after being asked if they’d ever cussed out a Republican during a panel discussion at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 35 candidate Greg Casar (left) and U.S. House Texas District 15 candidate Michelle Vallejo (right) show their answers as well. Former presidential candidate Julián Castro moderated the kickoff-off reception event.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

94/99Maria Cornell adjusts the lettering in Rhetta Andrews Bowers booth during the opening day of the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. The Texas House Representative plans to reintroduce the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) act to end race based hair discrimination.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )