Dallas, TX
Before the FIFA World Cup, Dallas can become a human rights city
The world will come to Dallas and surrounding cities on June 14 when the Netherlands faces off against Japan at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, or as it will be temporarily known, “Dallas Stadium.” Somewhere between 1.4 and 2.7 million visitors may attend matches and flock to other World Cup-related events across DFW this summer.
The most-watched sporting event on the planet comes to North Texas at a time when international tourism to the United States has softened, amid visa delays, stricter border enforcement policies and a recent federal proposal that would require some visitors to disclose up to five years of social media history as part of the visa waiver process.
Meanwhile, concerns about immigration enforcement have sparked protests abroad and calls by some commentators and advocates to boycott World Cup matches in the United States.
If the Dallas area wants to reverse this trend, make visitors feel truly safe, and, along the way, make the city a better place to live, an important first step would be becoming a human rights city. Guaranteeing migrant rights, currently under assault, is central to that project.
Human rights cities are inspired by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on Dec. 10, 1948, in the wake of the genocide that marked World War II. Article 1 of the Declaration proclaims that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
Articles 13 and 14 state that “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement … and the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.”
Yet, in the United States, the world has watched in horror the slayings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, violence that sparked protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents providing security at the Milan Winter Olympics. According to reports, some detained migrants have also been denied due process and held by immigration authorities in solitary confinement.
The City Council could start making Dallas a human rights citadel and assure World Cup fans they can visit without fear. It should also direct police not to assist ICE when it serves civil administrative warrants or in searches for migrants not facing criminal charges.
Rosario, Argentina, became the world’s first self-designated human rights city in 1997. Responding to their nation’s tragic history under a violent 1970s military dictatorship, the Rosario City Council sought a better future by requiring human rights training for judges, police, health providers and educators.
Nuremberg, Germany, a city deeply linked to the rise of Adolf Hitler, also became a human rights city in 2001. A city that once annually hosted Nazi Party rallies now requires human rights education in its schools. Human rights cities now number in the dozens.
In 2017, Dallas County became the first human rights county, joining other American cities that made a similar commitment. If Nuremberg, Jackson, Miss. (with its history of racial violence), and Atlanta (once the national headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan), can join the fight for human dignity, certainly Dallas can become a human rights city as well.
The World Cup looms on the horizon, rendering the need for this declaration ever more urgent. Labor abuses, sex trafficking, and forced displacement have long poisoned the history of international sports events. Dallas must not replicate this sorry past.
Michael Phillips is an author and historian, Rick Halperin is director of the SMU Human Rights Program and Hadi Jawad is the president of Human Rights Dallas.
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DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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