After a temporary relocation, the Texas Civil Rights Project reopened its East Austin office in the same type of neighborhood the nonprofit hopes to help.

The office of TCRP, an organization dedicated to providing legal help to low-income residents, experienced an electrical fire last October that forced the group to close its doors. After being relocated more than a half-year, TCRP will hold a grand reopening July 25 at the newly renovated office.

The staff continued working during renovations in temporary office space at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, TCRP–Austin Executive Director Jim Harrington said.

"We were very lucky," Harrington said. "The fire was at midnight, and by 11 [a.m.] or noon we were already relocated at the TRLA offices."

During the renovations Harrington said the staff was able to reorganize and ended up with a bigger workspace.

Harrington said the TCRP will continue its work to protect civil rights, adding that it is critical to stand up to injustice regardless of the situation.

"People often notice that civil rights are violated but don't do anything about it until it's their situation," he said. "It's important to protect civil rights across the board because it can catch up to them."

TCRP has four other offices throughout the state in El Paso, Houston, Odessa and South Texas.

TCRP initiatives

  • Disability rights: TCRP aims to improve access to public and private facilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The program also assists in mental health matters within the criminal justice system.
  • Rural economic justice: TCRP helps improve working conditions and fights unfair treatment of farm laborers and low-income workers.
  • Racial discrimination: Equity campaigns help the nonprofit combat racial and ethnic discrimination in banks, restaurants, hotels and other places of business.
  • The criminal justice system: Members of nonprofit group assist victims of police misconduct and combat unfair legal practices directed toward minorities.
  • Protecting free speech: As a protector of First Amendment rights, TCRP holds protests and has mediated efforts between agencies and victims when a violation has occurred.

Texas Civil Rights, 1405 Montopolis Drive, 512-474-5073, www.texascivilrightsproject.org