Posted 7:16 a.m. March 12: 

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker took the stage during the opening day of South by Southwest Conference & Festivals to focus on love and acceptance as a powerful tool to conquer some of the problems currently facing the U.S.

"We need each other," Booker said at the conference. "We have to make an unusual and extraordinary commitment to one another for this country to make it."

Watch the video below for the full keynote speech.





Updated 7:10 p.m.: Austin mayor stresses importance of local government during SXSW panel

Mayors of three progressive cities took the stage during the first day of South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals to talk local control, battling Washington, D.C., on public policy and gaining the trust of citizens.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer joined Emily Ramshaw, The Texas Tribune's editor-in-chief, Friday to tell SXSW attendees the fight against what is happening politically at the national level starts at the local level.

SXSW From left: City of Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, City of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler sit on a panel moderated by The Texas Tribune's editor-in-chief, Emily Ramshaw.[/caption]

On immigration


"Our values have to remain the same," said Stanton, adding cities like Phoenix need to push for a more innovative economy and more "pro-people policies" that are related to issues like immigration.

Adler said following the November election of U.S. President Donald Trump, it was critical to give citizens a sense of hope and reaffirm that they can trust local officials, particularly as it relates to immigration.



Adler mentioned Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's $1.5 million cuts in federal grants designated to Travis County after Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said local compliance with federal immigration authorities would be limited.

"When the community was faced with that ultimatum, our community said, 'Keep us safe,'" he said.

Since then, a Kickstarter campaign to make up the lost money has raised about $136,000 as of March 9.

On local control


Issues being discussed at the state level—such as the bathroom bill and statewide regulations on ride-sharing services—have to be monitored at the local levels, the mayors said.

Adler said he hoped the local community would be able to choose whether ride-hailing companies are required to fingerprint drivers, but state legislation may change that.

The mayor took a stance on the bathroom bill, which, if passed in Texas, would mandate people use bathrooms designated to their biological sex.

"It is a horrible solution to a nonexistent problem," Adler said.

On citizen participation


Adler, Fischer and Stanton stressed that active voter participation was the key to a thriving local government.

"People have gotten really frustrated with the government at the national level because it's so polarized and nothing gets done," Adler said. "What my community wants our council to do is very direct and very immediate, and it should be respected."

Fischer said the way to get mayors' attention was to show up, be informed and be organized.

"A person who has their act together will be heard," he said.




Posted 12:40 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker at SXSW: Love, not tolerance, will help our country 'make it'


U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, took the stage during the first day of South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals to tell the audience that love, not tolerance, will conquer in 2017.

"We need each other," Booker said. "We have to make an unusual and extraordinary commitment to one another for this country to make it."

In a one-on-one interview with Malika Saada Sara, Google's senior counsel on civil and human rights, Booker spoke about the "climate of fear" he is feeling in the country, quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and encouraged listeners to "be an engine of hope."

 



When asked whether he was planning to run for president of the United States, Booker said he was not focusing on what would happen in 2020 but what is happening now and "what we could be doing to tell the truth about the injustices we’re facing right now."

 




Posted 11 a.m.: SXSW Day 1: What's new, what's trending

Welcome to the first day of South by Southwest Conference & Festivals, or, as Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest calls it, the "always-evolving, ever-changing beast."

In the opening speech of the festival, Forrest ran through what's new at the 30-year festival, explaining how the new badge system works.

Attendees can go to sessions using the all-inclusive platinum pass or purchase an interactive, film or music pass, which allows for different access to various events and sessions.

"We think it's a big, big improvement," Forrest said.



 

SXSW now has 24 tracks, including journalism, health and artificial intelligence, with more than 1,000 sessions over six days.

"I implore you to explore everything, everything, everything out there," Forrest said. "Go outside your comfort zone."