San Antonio police arrested Marcos Rene Olvera, 24, on Tuesday on allegations he posted an online threat against the mayor. Bexar County Sheriff's Office" class="uk-display-block uk-position-relative uk-visible-toggle"> click to enlarge San Antonio police arrested Marcos Rene Olvera, 24, on Tuesday on allegations he posted an online threat against the mayor. - Bexar County Sheriff's Office
Bexar County Sheriff's Office
San Antonio police arrested Marcos Rene Olvera, 24, on Tuesday on allegations he posted an online threat against the mayor.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is blaming racism and sexism for an online death threat directed at her this week.
In an interview with the Express-News, Jones said the reported threat, made in an X group chat called “Spurs Familia,” illustrates the challenges faced by women of color in positions of power.
“If you’re a woman of color, you experience more of this online harassment and these kinds of threats,” Jones said. “It’s just a reality. It’s unfortunate.”
Jones, who took office in June, is of Filipino descent and is San Antonio’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayor.
San Antonio police arrested Marcos Rene Olvera, 24, on Tuesday, alleging he tweeted "We need to kill the mayor" in a group chat discussion about Project Marvel, the proposed sports-and-entertainment district that would include a new arena for the city's NBA team. Jones has pushed for a "strategic pause" in negotiations with Spurs Sports & Entertainment.
“Whoa there buddy,” one member of the group chat responded, screenshots obtained by the Current show. “Let’s not say that, lmao.”
X account @Alamo_on_the_Rise publicized the alleged threat, and City Public Service, San Antonio’s city-owned utility, reported the online remark to authorities, according to SAPD.
Olvera is charged with retaliation, a third-degree felony defined in the Texas Penal Code as threatening a public servant or witness. He was released Wednesday from the Bexar County Jail after posting a $125,000 bond.
Jones' efforts to pause negotiations for a new Spurs arena and her calls for more economic research on Project Marvel have angered some Spurs fans and members of City Council. Despite the mayor's pleas, the majority of council appears to be in favor of agreeing to a non-binding list of terms with the Spurs by the end of the month.
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