“The governor of Texas, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, attorney general, commander of the Texas Guard, commander of the Texas Department of Public Safety and commander of the Texas Rangers are hereby relieved of duty.
“Our objective during this period is to diffuse any potentially volatile situations and ensure public safety while we bring Texas back into the American community. To do this, some steps that may seem strict will be necessary to ensure public safety during this process.
“Under the authority of the National Defense Authorization Act and the Patriot Act, local law enforcement officials will work with reassigned federal workers and volunteers to assist those in Texas with temporarily turning in their firearms.”
President Johnson furrowed his brow and now seemed even more serious as he stated, “Now, Americans know I am an avid Second Amendment supporter. We consider this an emergency situation and, in consulting with Congress, we believe this is a serious public safety issue. Citizens can voluntarily report to local law enforcement officials to turn in their firearms where they will be documented, recorded and stored with local law enforcement until the crisis is over and martial law has been rescinded. At that time, the firearms will be returned to their respective owners who have proper documentation.”
Johnson continued. “During this time, I have dispatched U.S. Army and National Guard troops to be stationed at federal government buildings and installations including courthouses, IRS offices, post offices, VA hospitals, FBI offices and wherever local law enforcement asks us for assistance.
“While martial law is in effect, we ask that all citizens cooperate with federal authorities and local law enforcement. Right now, I cannot tell you how long martial law will remain in place, but you have my assurance it will not remain a single minute longer than necessary to return Texas to the community of American states. I am sure all Texans will be happy for their lives to return to normal as soon as possible.”
Pausing again, the president attempted a reassuring tone as he continued. “The rest of America has watched this crisis over the last few months and has been saddened by your hardships. You deserve better from your leaders in Austin, and my administration and this Congress are committed to restoring state government in Texas to one dedicated to the interests of all Texans and not the extremist fringe it served in the past. Today is the first day in the restoration of an American Texas!”
Chapter 47
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
~ John F. Kennedy
35th President of the United States
President Johnson’s proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the referendum vote was a punch in the gut to many in the Texas Legislature, state, county and local government officials.
Johnson had clearly drawn the line. Decisions made forward by Texans statewide would be life-altering. During the next twelve hours, state politicians and election officials were in complete disarray. Although the threats by the administration were always hovering over Texas, this announcement was a clear threat that Johnson would use any and all means necessary to whip Texas into submission.
Christy Dixon sat in her small living room with her son watching President Johnson deliver his message to Texas and the country. The Dixons had literally been on the run since the events at Ellington Field, where the Texas Rangers rescued her husband, Chuck. The ATF had destroyed their home and the administration had an active federal arrest warrant out for Chuck.
Christy thought how much the life of her family had changed since Chuck became deeply involved in the Tea Party. They once lived in a comfortable home, Chuck had a very nice business and life was very much above average for the Dixons with many dreams for the future.
Christy sat on the edge of the couch with her hands clasped together, watching the president’s message with a look of seriousness that didn’t go unnoticed by Colton. He could see the instant fear and trepidation that came over her and the small tear that rolled down her cheek.
Chuck was away, meeting with fellow Tea Party members from across the state. He traveled away from his family now more than ever as the wheels of the Texas crisis had reached an accelerated level.
“Mom, what does this mean? Is dad in danger?” asked Colton.
Christy had to gather herself for a moment to wipe tears from her face. She knew she had to be strong for Colton.
“Colton, your dad is very strong. He is a hero to many people and he is a hero to you and me. Dad is doing what he thinks is the right thing for us as a family.”
“But Mr. Mumford…”
“Colton, your dad is going to be fine. We are going to be fine,” she repeated, trying to reassure Colton as he remembered all too well the friend of the family who was shot in the street in front of his family by federal agents.
Colton, traumatized by the Waco-style raid that destroyed their home while his dad was taken away in chains by the ATF, still had nightmares about that day.
After reassuring her son, she hugged him, kissed him on the forehead and sent him to bed.
Christy sat on a small chair in the bathroom in front of the mirror removing her make-up when she burst into tears while she held a hand towel to her nose and mouth, hoping Colton couldn’t hear her.
She looked at her phone to see if Chuck had texted or tried to call her, but he hadn’t since an hour before the president’s address.
Christy was a strong woman. She had always unabashedly backed and supported her husband, but she remembered the words spoken to her husband early in the Tea Party days by a business associate of Chuck’s that said he believed in the Tea Party principles but couldn’t join.
“Don’t think the federal government doesn’t have an enemies list, Chuck,” he told them both. “People in power will do whatever is necessary to keep their power. Do not underestimate the lengths people will go to when they try to maintain the status quo.”
Their friend had politely declined to participate in any Tea Party event. There was one quote in particular that had really stuck with her and, during some of the darkest hours of the Texas crisis, especially when Chuck was being held at an undetermined location, this quote had always come back to her.
“If you approach a traffic light that is green and you look to your left and a car is coming through their light that is red, do you continue through the green light or do you stop? You are in the right; your light is green. Do you continue on through the light, even though the driver to your left is obviously not going to stop and is going to ignore the law? Of course you don’t. You avoid the accident, Chuck. What you and Christy are proposing is to drive through the green light anyway simply because you are right. The problem is, you may be right, but you will be dead right!”
Christy had never let the thoughts of questioning the principles in which their family stood enter her mind as she fought them back during Chuck’s arrest. But now, they were back again.
The president’s message terrified her. Chuck had become a symbolic and central figure in the entire saga of the crisis. Now, more than ever, it appeared her family was in serious danger. Then the phone rang. She picked it up with some apprehension and answered, “Hello?”
“Hey, baby,” said Chuck.
“Hey, honey,” she responded, trying to hide the fact that she had been literally sobbing in a towel as she wiped tears from her face and her dark blonde hair wet from tears.
“Did you see Johnson?” he asked.
“Yes, Chuck, and I’ve got to tell you, I’m really scared. Scared for you and scared for us.”
“Christy, we have a plan, babe. Johnson has really shown his hand to the rest of the world. I have to believe God has a plan for us in this. Yes, it’s serious, but we’ve come this far.”
“Chuck, they’re not messing around now.”
“Honey, they never were. This is forcing Texans into a corner. If this doesn’t unite us all, then it is really over and we will find another
place to live. Have faith, babe.”
“I’m trying, Chuck, I’m really trying.”
“I know you are, and I love you for it,” said Chuck, holding his own tears back now.
“What happens next?” she asked.
“Too much for the phone, babe. I’ll tell you in person. I’ll be home in about three hours.”
“Chuck, please, please be safe,” Christy pleaded.
“These are perilous but exciting times, babe. What we are going through now, other families during the American Revolution must have felt,” answered Chuck, trying to lighten her burden.
“I’m glad you think this is fun,” Christy said sarcastically, but with a smile on her face.
“If this doesn’t wake people up, nothing will.”
“God, I hope so,” said Christy.
“How’s my boy?”
“He watched Johnson tonight, too. He’s pretty smart, Chuck. But he’s scared, too.”
“Stay strong, babe. Stay strong for him.”
“I really need you, Chuck. Please come home.”
“On my way, sweetheart. On my way!”
Chapter 48
“Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Nations and peoples who forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms.”
~ Robert E. Heinlein (1907-1988)
American Author
Fox News began the day before the election with the report that sympathetic volunteer militia groups were pouring into Texas via unconventional routes not guarded by federal troops. Organized militia groups were reported from Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Idaho. Fox interviewed a two-hundred member group that came in across the Red River from Missouri.
“We’re sick and tired of this criminal administration, the federal overreach and especially the tyranny our friends in Texas are suffering. We are here to help in any way we can, including keeping those polls open.”
The Fox reporter asked, “Will you raise arms against the feds?”
“Ma’am, we aren’t here looking for a fight. But, at the same time, we aren’t going to back down from the feds,” answered one militia member.
“Will you use your weapons against the federal agents or the U.S. military?” she repeated.
“Let’s just put it this way, the same way the president answered. All options are on the table,” he said with a big grin.
In other U.S. cities, protesters critical of Texas and calling for an end to the crisis were taking to the streets in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Hartford and New York, mostly organized by far left wing organizations and unions aligned with the Democratic Party.
Gov. Brahman announced a news conference for 6:00 p.m. that was going to be broadcast worldwide on live television, seemingly to respond to the president’s latest words and to tell the world whether Texas intended to go forward with an Independence referendum ballot despite threats from the administration.
Chuck Dixon desperately tried to get through to the governor’s office all morning, finally speaking with the lieutenant governor at 11:00 a.m.
Chuck came out of the bedroom after the thirty-minute call and Christy could tell he was very deep in thought.
“Babe, it’s time for us to implement the emergency plan we put in place. The governor is convinced the vote is still going forward. We are likely to have armed confrontation if Johnson makes good on his promises.”
Christy measured her words carefully before responding. Again, the doubt began to creep in, but she fought it off.
“Okay, I’ll pack now. When should Colton and I leave?”
“As soon as you’re packed. We don’t know when or how Johnson will move so we can’t take any chances. I have just alerted the militia network and we will start implementing our plans in the next two hours. I need you to get out of Houston, babe,” he said, referring to a pre-arranged rural safe house that was essentially off the grid.
Over the next two hours, those tied in with various Tea Party groups, volunteer militias, constitutional organizations and even some churches began mass migrations out of the major suburban areas.
By noon, reports were surfacing that a line of two hundred DHS armored vehicles, apparently poised to march into Texas, stopped at the checkpoint on Interstate 10 on the Texas-Louisiana border and the barricades had been removed. The checkpoint was less than two hours from Houston.
Chuck had gotten Christy and Colton off and on their way to a secluded spot in west Texas. Next he loaded prepared duffle bags and various other items into his truck from the garage and headed just west of Houston for the rendezvous point in the rice fields.
Chuck’s heart dropped momentarily when he got within three miles of the chosen meeting place.
“What the hell are all these cars and trucks here for?” was his immediate thought, thinking their cover had been blown and the meeting spot was no longer a secret, until he started noticing the people in the vehicles.
Many had camouflage on. Many had Texas flags flying from windows and from the backs of their trucks. Many were brandishing weapons.
“So much for the element of surprise,” Chuck thought to himself, as the plan devised in case of this type of emergency was to catch the feds off-guard. “If the feds have satellites focused on this area, they will definitely see that something is up.”
Impatient as he was waiting for the line to filter through the narrow ranch gate, Chuck went off-road through a trail adjacent to a large irrigation ditch to avoid the delay. Several vehicles, seeing him take this route, decided to follow and, before long, the rice fields had two lines of cars and trucks traversing the mud to get to the designated GPS coordinates in the rice field. Those who had never seen a rice field were in trouble when they tried to navigate anywhere but on the ranch road or irrigation ditch. They found themselves quickly wallowed in mud up to the bottom of their doors. Not to be deterred from their chosen path, they quickly abandoned their vehicles and jumped onto other trucks.
Finally, Chuck reached the designated clearing and was shocked at the turn-out. He estimated eight hundred to a thousand people were congregated at the meeting site.
Chuck’s long-time friend Mitch Lansford was already standing on a makeshift platform erected on the back of a Ford pick-up truck with a bullhorn in his hand. Standing next to him was Zach Turner, the president of the oldest Texas independence organization—Free Texas Now!
“Ladies and gentlemen, we need to move quickly and decisively. May I have your attention? Please help me welcome up here Texas hero Chuck Dixon!”
The crowd began cheering wildly and waving Texas flags. Lansford motioned with his hands for the crowd to go silent but, to many, the chance to see Dixon in real life on the eve of a monumental event in Texas had the crowd too giddy for reason.
Turner climbed down off the platform to make room for Chuck. As soon as Chuck was handed the bullhorn, the crowd spontaneously broke into “Texas, Our Texas,” the Texas state song. The crowd was stoked and apparently ready for whatever President Johnson threw at them.
Dixon, dressed in blue jeans, cowboy boots and a polo pullover, waited for the crowd to finish each chorus. When the crowd finally quieted, all one could hear were dozens of flags popping in the brisk wind whipping across the prairie.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. I guess our primitive communication system does in fact work for now.” The crowd broke into cheers again.
“I spoke to the governor’s office this morning. Meetings like we are having here are happening all over Texas today. We have one charter, ladies and gentlemen. Our single purpose is to assure that Texans have a right to cast a ballot in tomorrow’s referendum. Period. We will all do what is absolutely necessary to ensure each and every Texan who desires to exercise the right to vote in a free election, no matter if they are for or against the referendum,” stated Dixon as he pointed his finger in th
e air while the crowd cheered again.
“Now, let me be perfectly clear. To the rest of the nation, this crowd looks like some kind of lynch mob or anarchists gone wild.” The crowd laughed and cheered simultaneously.
“Each of you have county coordinators to report to, with a plan of action approved by the governor’s office and the DPS. I am going to ask you to please follow the plan and do not deviate. The entire world is going to be watching to see if we pull this off. They are also going to be watching how the Johnson administration reacts. We need to conduct ourselves in a manner in which future Texans, your kids and grandkids, can be proud of.” He smiled as the crowd cheered again.
“Now, it is clear you don’t need any motivational speeches from me. I mean hell, you drove out here to the middle of nowhere and you’re about to put your necks on the line for your fellow citizens and for the idea of a free Texas, unencumbered by a tyrannical despot in D.C. So, let’s get to it. God bless Texas and Godspeed,” He finished to cheers once again.
The crowd broke into small groups across the fields based on portable numbered banners that dotted the landscape. Everyone there was assigned to a particular number ahead of time. Several dozen militia members from other states showed up and met with Dixon after he was finished.
“Listen, we sincerely appreciate your help. The governor’s office has asked us to communicate to ya’ll that you’ll be used as poll watchers and possibly to assist our law enforcement if the need arises. However, we could lose all credibility if any militia groups initiate contact with protestors or the feds without due cause, especially those of you from out of state,” reasoned Dixon to a mix of groups from various states.
“We have a special liaison who will make your assignments and go over what our plan is to make sure this election happens. I would like to introduce Sheriff Alvarez. He will be your liaison to the governor’s office and the Texas Rangers. Again, we thank you for your help.”
An hour later, the last pick-up truck pulled out of the ranch gate onto the farm-to-market road. All across Texas, similar gatherings were wrapping up.
A State of Treason Page 31
