Rights group critical of Houston Marathon sponsor Chevron expelled from expo for criticism

Houston event ousts group critical of race sponsor

HOUSTON — A group of human rights advocates who had a booth at the Houston Marathon expo critical of sponsor Chevron was expelled for painting the company “in a negative light.”

Steven Karpas is the managing director of the Houston Marathon Committee. He said runners from the Rainforest Action Network were setting up a booth with “very anti-Chevron placards and pamphlets that absolutely painted Chevron in a negative light,” so he had them booted from the expo.

The network’s Brianna Cayo Cotter said the group was escorted by police out of the city-owned convention center with a promise that their $1,300 expo fee would be refunded. She said the group only intended to distribute stickers and pamphlets like many other exhibitors.