# Defending Democracy: How Cities Rise Up When Feds Push Down

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**Date:** March 18, 2026 · 10:00 PM  
**Location:** Hilton Austin Downtown / Salon E  
**Format:** Panel  
**Track:** Culture  
**Reviews:** 0

## Speakers

- **Kendra Brooks** — Minority Leader, Councilmember at Large
- **Francesca Menes** — Managing Director, Membership & Organizing
- **Eunisses Hernandez** — City Councilmember
- **Vanessa Fuentes** — Austin City Councilwoman

As federal authoritarianism threatens civil rights, immigration, and economic justice, cities are stepping up to defend democracy. Join District 2 Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes, at-Large Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks, and District 1 Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez as they share diverse, frontline perspectives in this conversation moderated by Francesca Menes, Managing Director of the Membership & Organizing Team at Local Progress. If democracy survives this moment, it will be because cities held the line.

## Transcript

No transcript yet. [Upload one](https://hello.sxsw.md/transcript-upload?session=pp1162800-defending-democracy-how-cities-rise-up-when-feds-push-down&date=2026-03-18)

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