Patterson condemns French’s post without reservation
Jared PattersonMember of the Texas House of Representatives posting on his public X account.
Patterson said the post was racist and wrong, and argued that immigration-policy disagreement does not license demeaning people because of race or ethnicity.
Responding to
French’s posts demeaned the pictured people because of their race or ethnicity.
“This is racist. It is wrong. And I condemn it without reservation. There is absolutely nothing Christian or conservative about looking at a crowd of young Texans at a college football game, seeing the color of their skin, and declaring that they are a “problem.””
Original post
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Was Bo French’s UT Austin post racist?
After the University of Texas football team’s September 12, 2026 comeback win over Ohio State, Republican Railroad Commission nominee Bo French posted a still image of apparent South Asian fans and called what it showed a “problem.” He later said social media was exposing Americans being displaced by foreigners and accused UT of prioritizing foreigners over Texans. French and several supporters framed the posts as a legitimate criticism of immigration and admissions policy. Republican and Democratic officials, along with other commentators, condemned the use of the fans’ appearance as racist or xenophobic. Governor Greg Abbott rejected French’s interpretation of the image while reaffirming support for restrictive immigration policies.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Patterson’s direct response argues that immigration-policy disagreement does not justify demeaning people by race or ethnicity.
Reporting
About this source
State political reporting that documents the sequence of French’s posts and attributable responses from elected officials.
Reporting
About this source
Original local reporting that verified the still came from an official Texas Athletics video and published Abbott’s direct response.
Before the quotation
French had used the crowd image to make claims about foreign displacement and UT admissions.
After the quotation
Patterson distinguished his own strong immigration views from French’s treatment of the pictured fans.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Patterson explicitly says the conduct was wrong and condemns it without reservation.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Bo French
More from this case
Read the full caseRosenthal calls donations a rejection of French
“The people are rejecting this bold, racist campaign of his.”Read statement
Krishnamoorthi calls French’s UT fan post a xenophobic attack
“The Department of Education seems to be playing dog whistles to Bo French’s tune just days after his xenophobic attack on South Asian students for cheering for their own college football team. South Asian Americans are as American as anyone.”Read statement
French says his UT fan posts were about culture, not race
“It’s fair to say that Texas doesn’t look and feel like it did when I was a kid, and that’s not racist.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Patterson condemns French’s post without reservation". First published: 2026-09-15. Last updated: 2026-09-15. https://disputeindex.com/events/577-patterson-said-the-post-was-racist-and-wrong