A Texas jury is currently deliberating on a case involving a convoy of supporters of then-President Donald Trump who allegedly intimidated former Democratic lawmaker Wendy Davis and two others on a Biden-Harris campaign bus. The incident occurred on October 30, 2020, when a group of cars and trucks organized by a local Trump Train group swarmed the bus as it traveled from San Antonio to Austin. Video footage shows pickup trucks with large Trump flags aggressively slowing down and boxing in the bus, causing it to come to a crawl. Despite multiple calls to 911 for help and a police escort, no law enforcement arrived, forcing the campaign to cancel an event at Texas State University in San Marcos and proceed to Austin.
The plaintiffs in the case argue that the convoy organizers targeted the bus in a calculated attack to intimidate the Democrats, in violation of the “Ku Klux Klan Act,” a federal law that prohibits political violence and intimidation. They claim that the actions of the Trump Train drivers put people’s lives in danger and forced the campaign to cancel its remaining events in Texas. Two nonprofit advocacy groups, Texas Civil Rights Project and Protect Democracy, are also representing the three plaintiffs in the case. Wendy Davis testified that she felt as though she was being “taken hostage” during the incident and has sought treatment for anxiety as a result.
On the other hand, attorneys for the defendants deny that they conspired to swarm the Democrats on the bus and argue that the actions of the convoy were protected speech. They claim that the convoy was a political rally and not an intentional effort to intimidate anyone. The defense lost a bid to have the case ruled in their favor without a trial, with the judge stating that assaulting, intimidating, or threatening others with force is not protected expression. The attorney for some of the defendants, Francisco Canseco, believes that the trial is a concerted effort to drain conservatives of their money.
The trial, which began on September 9, is expected to last for another week as the jury weighs the evidence and testimonies presented in court. The incident has raised concerns about political violence and intimidation leading up to the 2020 general election. San Marcos settled a separate lawsuit filed by the same three Democrats against the police, agreeing to pay $175,000 and institute political violence training for law enforcement. The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for how political rallies and demonstrations are conducted in the future.
