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Why I support Former HUD Secretary + San Antonio Mayor @JulianCastro for President in 2020 (a thread!). This thread has been a long time coming, and I am so excited to share the reasons that I will be voting for Sec. Castro in the DC primary on June 20 of next year. (1)
If I happen to think of more reasons/accidentally leave anything out, I will add it to this thread + pin the thread to the top of my profile. On January 12, 2019, Castro announced that he would be running for POTUS. At the time, Castro was the first candidate to announce. (2)
...and I instantly knew I would be voting for him, donating to him, volunteering for his campaign, and doing whatever small part I could to help get him elected. I have been hoping that he would run for POTUS since watching his DNC speech 2012. (3) https://bit.ly/33edmxh
If you have not watched this speech yet, you should. I felt so inspired, even at 17 -- unable to vote myself -- by this man, who clearly cared so deeply about all communities and who truly put #PeopleFirst. (4)
If you haven't watched his announcement speech yet either, you should. He speaks to his family's activist roots, including his mom @castrocountry and brother @Castro4Congress, voiced support for #M4A, a Green New Deal, and said #BlackLivesMatter 
. (5) https://bit.ly/2XD8Ze2
. (5) https://bit.ly/2XD8Ze2
I knew, before anyone else announced they were running for President, that if Sec. Castro ran, I would wholeheartedly support his campaign. Each and every day, I have become more and more confident in this decision + am absolutely thrilled to be volunteering with #TeamCastro. (6)
First, let's talk about Castro's policies. His plans are deeply informed by his experiences as a Mayor of the seventh-largest city in the United States and experience as HUD Secretary under Pres Obama (shout out to @MayaRupert for this thread on that). https://bit.ly/35uwZTf (7)
I also would recommend reading this article on his successes as San Antonio mayor in implementing @PreK4SA and a number of other groundbreaking and boldly progressive policies & programs. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/17/san-antonio-pre-k-program-mayor-julian-castro-215497 (8)
Castro's first set of 2020 proposals/plans set the standard for other candidates' and moved the needle drastically on a topic many candidates often gloss over: immigration. He became the first candidate in the race to call for a 21st century Marshall Plan for Latin America... (9)
...and for decriminalizing border crossings by repealing Section 1325 -- please read more in this article about how this plan would shift our immigration system from one of punitive measures to one of compassion and inclusion. https://bit.ly/2ri79Da (10)
Since then, Castro has led the way on immigration consistently with the most progressive ideas surrounding protections for climate refugees, breaking up ICE, and investing more resources into immigrant communities Castro has also walked the walk. (11)
In October, he escorted 12 asylum seekers into the United States and stood in solidarity with them. This was an incredibly powerful moment that spoke to the soul of Castro's political advocacy + what this campaign is striving to do: put people first. https://n.pr/37zpCvt (12)
This month, he escorted an asylum seeker to an ICE check-in. These aren't publicity or campaign stunts for Castro; they are integral to his worldview of helping people and uplifting marginalized communities. https://n.pr/37zpCvt (13)
Another issue that has been central to the #Castro2020 campaign has been housing. Castro's housing plan would *end* chronic homelessness by 2028. While wearing a Housing is a Human Right shirt, he toured the storm drains in NV. https://cnn.it/2OHB93t (14)
I keep repeating myself, but the most persistent theme of @JulianCastro throughout his career and his 2020 run has been putting people first -- always. "I quit my job at a top law firm so that I could take a vote to protect our water in San Antonio." (15) https://bit.ly/2QNecyf
This #PeopleFirst ethos is evident in his criminal justice reform plans + policing plans that work in tandem to quite literally save lives. Castro (once again) has put his actions where his words are when he visited with inmates in a DC jail. https://bit.ly/33bCrsv (16)
Castro was the 1st candidate to bring up repro justice for trans and non-binary people in a #DemDebate and has worked to lift up LGBTQIA+ issues throughout his campaign, including a proposal to end discrimination against LGBTQIA+ folks in adoption. (17) https://bit.ly/2QLeXYF
He has also lead the field on disability issues and has put forward a comprehensive disability justice and equity plan which is informed by an intersectional analysis and understanding of disability rights. (18) https://bit.ly/2QITwrd
There is probably a lot more that I could add (and likely will add), but these are some of the most important reasons, from my perspective, to support @JulianCastro in whatever primary or caucus you will be voting/caucusing in. Get involved here.. (19) https://bit.ly/2OcXBlS
& of course, if you want to donate -- Castro needs 10,000 more donors (as of today) to qualify for the December debate so let's help get him there. (20) http://bit.ly/JCDebates #Castro2020
--> The link in my 13th Tweet should be this one. https://www.radioiowa.com/2019/11/13/castro-accompanies-honduran-seeking-asylum-in-u-s-to-ice-check-in/ (21)
I’ve already thought of so many more reasons that should be included — his education plan, climate change plan, health care plan, + animal rights plan! (22)
Everyone should read *all* of his plans. They’re unique, strong, forward thinking, inclusive, and progressive. http://JulianForTheFuture.com (23)
