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Texas child wears body armor on ‘first day of school’ in ad by Mothers Against Greg Abbott

The ad is a part of a viral campaign led by PAC Mothers Against Greg Abbott

AUSTIN, TEXAS: A political action committee founded by a group of mothers has commissioned a back-to-school television advert against Governor Greg Abbott showing a young child wearing body armor on his "first day of school."

In one of the most potent pieces of political campaigning in Texas history, the Mothers Against Greg Abbott PAC premiered a new back-to-school-themed campaign ad on Monday, August 15, just as children across the state started returning to their schools. The 30-second clip shows a mother prepping her elementary-aged son for his first day of school, buttoning his shirt, and tying his shoes. A cheerful country song plays in the background, but the lyrics paint a rather grim picture.

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"Little boys and little girls followin' the rules, gettin' ready for the first day of school," a man is heard singing along to a guitar melody. "Politicians say they make our land safe and free. They're supposed to stand for you and me. Keep our children safe for you and me." The mother is seen proudly taking a photo of her son, but it soon emerges that she was actually dressing her ward in body armor and a helmet. The final shot shows the child staring at the camera while holding a sign that reads "First Day of School." The screen then fades to black, as a caption reads at the bottom, "Our children are not soldiers. Vote for change on November 8th."

It's worth noting that this is the third ad released by the women-led PAC against Gov Abbott that aims to garner votes for his Democratic gubernatorial opponent Beto O'Rourke in the upcoming November election. The group is reportedly also collecting signatures for a letter to be sent to the governor's desk on gun safety reform, calling for the implementation of universal background checks, raising the age to buy a gun to 21, as well as mandatory waiting periods. "We can’t keep waiting for tragedy to strike, or kicking the can once it does," the group declared on Twitter. "Sign our letter to Greg Abbott demanding action to keep our kids safe from gun violence—or face the consequences come November."

The PAC announced last week that it had put up five billboards across Texas criticizing Abbott over his response to the Uvalde school shooting. The ads quote the Republican governor saying that the mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers "could have been worse." The PAC's previous ads were released in July, and its most recent one - also the most popular - depicted a fictional scene of a doctor calling Abbot for permission to allow an abortion. The ad reportedly garnered millions of views.

The latest ad comes just days after the Republican leader released his first TV ad in the Texas gubernatorial race this week. The commercial is largely biographical and features Abbott's wife, Cecilia, recounting how she met him in college and the two tied the knot shortly after. She also discusses the accident that put her husband in a wheelchair and lauds his perseverance.

"I learned what Greg Abbott was really made of when I saw how he responded to his paralyzing accident," Cecilia said in the ad. "His recovery took months, but he never gave up and the joys of our marriage and adopting our daughter, Audrey, showed me the depths of his love and commitment. Hard work, perseverance, and family. That's what defines Greg Abbott and how he governs Texas," she added.