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​Elected officials can see as clearly as the rest of us how Senator Alex Padilla was handcuffed & that they are no safer than any of us. Above you see Senator Padilla pinned down by four law enforcement officers. 

Elected officials should encourage people to attend June 14 protests, attend even if they are not speaking & stand up to Greg Abbott if National Guard troops are sent to Houston for the June 14th protests.

There is a No Kings Protest at Houston City Hall on the 14th from ten to noon. Call or e-mail Houston City Council Democrats and ask them to go to the protest.

Tell them freedom begins at home & Houston City Councilmembers must fully join the fight. Tell them that cuts to NASA, the National Weather Service, FEMA & to research at the Texas Medical Center directly impact Houston. You can say that ICE is disappearing people and that you want to live in a free society. 

Here is contact information for the ten Houston City Council Democrats: 

At-Large-Letita Plummer 832-393-3012 [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017 [email protected]
District B- Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009 [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004 [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002 [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002 [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015 [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016 [email protected]

Here are Council district maps so you can see who represents you. Both at-large Councilmembers represent the entire city. Martha Castex-Tatum is Mayor Pro-Tem which is the number two official in the city after Mayor Whitmire. It would be fair to see her a citywide representative. And all of them would be happy to send you a fundraising pitch no matter where you live. Some may run for other offices in the future. 

We are way past the point where we can afford to view Houston City Council as non-partisan & it is also way overdue that Councilmembers play a more active role outside of City Hall. We need them and they need us. We must all be in this fight together. 

Find a June 14 protest near you​.

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and the most recent session is available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council.

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.​​

Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I've heard a few people say they are a bit nervous about attending one of the Saturday protests. Fair enough.

What I'd say is we are facing an authoritarian, white supremacist opponent & there is no guarantee of safety.

There certainly will be no safety under an authoritarian regime. 

Just as June 14 builds on the successful April 17 protests, I believe June 14 is a step toward larger actions in the near future.

Nothing is going to be easy. There is no promise of safety. (We can take steps to be as safe as possible.) We will be called insurrectionists no matter what we do. There is a considerable struggle ahead.

Let's stay our course. 

​Find a June 14 protest near you.

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

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The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest had 33 people today for Week 435. Above you see our team today. 

It is essential that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently no matter the aggression of the right.

Protest can never be guaranteed safe—Especially now. We are confronting an authoritarian and white supremacist opponent. The Cornyn Protest stands fully open to all at a busy corner. We will continue to do so.

The National Guard has been sent to Los Angeles over the objection of Mayor Bass & Governor Newsom. Trump has threatened potential protesters at his military parade & declares all sorts of “emergencies" to extend his power.

Our most basic freedoms are at risk.

Some questions the Houston Democracy Project continues to ask--

* With HPD cooperating with ICE, what process is in place to make certain Houstonians will receive due process & not be sent/disappeared to places like the El Salvador torture prison?

* If/When the Trump Administration moves forward with threats to civil liberties such as the suspension of habeas corpus, will HPD resources be used to assist Trump?

* When will Houston/Harris County elected officials--all who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution-- step up? Elected officials not speaking and showing up, shift the effort & risk of protecting democracy to us. These officials must assume a greater share of the burden of the effort ahead.

​Freedom begins right here at home.

​Please find a June 14 protest near you.  We need millions of people on the streets on June 14. And then we’ll take it from there.

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

​​Above is a picture of people marching from Montrose to Hermann Park and back yesterday to protest ICE and the excessive federal response to the protests by Trump. I took part in this march.

There were maybe 700 or 800 people. The protest was called on short notice. People showed up. May it be 8,000 or 80,000 next time.

It was really hot. If everyday rank & file Houstonians can show up and walk a long route on a hot day, then so can elected officials.

There were a lot of cops along the route. HPD managed the traffic along the route & were well-behaved. May HPD take the side of our freedom as our rights are trashed. We'll have to contact our Houston City Councilmembers to demand our police have our side.

Trump and his crew intend to take our rights and our freedom. ICE is a threat to our freedom. 

Since this protest in Houston yesterday, Trump announced he’ll send active-duty Marines to Los Angeles. Elected officials and the professional classes should speak up about sending the Marines into an American city. Everyone should speak up.

There is nothing very complicated to say right now. The June 14th Protests offer us an opportunity to show up in great numbers. We should take that opportunity.

And then we'll take it from there.

Here is a link to June 14th No Kings protests across the Houston region and across Texas.
​
Let’s be calm and determined for the challenge ahead. Let’s demand that people who claim to lead us at least have our backs.

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

​Thanks to Tiffany Thomas, Edward Pollard and Abbie Kamin for being the three no votes on Mayor John Whitmire's regressive budget. Here is a story from KUHF explaining the votes of the three Councilmembers. 

The budget cut essential services on behalf of over-generous public safety union contracts, did not plan for the inevitable costs of our next disaster & left the city vulnerable to substantial future budget shortfalls. Here are two accounts of the budget.

Thanks to everyone who spoke & organized against the budget. There was no need for HPD to clear the entire Council chamber after some people began chanting and unfurled a banner. The final vote in favor of the budget was taken with the public expelled from the Council chamber. 

The banner was unveiled at the 7 hour 20 minute mark of the HTV video of the Tuesday public comment session/Wednesday agenda meeting. You can see what happened and what you think. You don't see the stretch where the room was being cleared. Once the meeting resumed, only Councilmember Thomas expressed concern for what happened. Ms. Thomas asked that nobody be arrested. Nobody was  arrested. 

Above is a picture of the demonstration in Council chambers from a Channel 26 report. Everybody got tossed even if not actively taking part in the demonstration. (The press was allowed to remain.) Below is a picture of the chamber as final discussions on the budget were happening. This picture is from the HTV feed. 

The Houston Democracy Project continues to ask the following questions:

* With HPD cooperating with ICE, what process is in place to make certain Houstonians will receive due process & not be sent/disappeared to places like the El Salvador torture prison?

* If/When the Trump Administration moves forward with threats to civil liberties such as the suspension of habeas corpus, will HPD resources be used to assist Trump?

* When will the six Council Republicans (Ramirez, Davis, Carter, Peck, Flickinger & Huffman.) be held to account for Republican cuts to National Weather Service, FEMA, research at the Texas Medical Center, NASA and all the cuts impacting Houston? When will they speak up and advocate for Houston?

I feel this post is a bit disjointed. There is the budget, the disruption in Council & the ever-present reality of authoritarian trouble on the way. Many things going on at once. People are making decisions about how to proceed and how to react. Let's all stay the course as best we can. Let's do what is right as often as we can. 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and the most recent session is available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are Council district maps so you can see who represents you. 

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

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Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare was the speaker at the Houston LGBTQ Political Caucus
last night. Above you see a picture of Mr. Teare at the meeting. 

DA Teare said a number of things about how he has improved the DA's office since he took over for Kim Ogg. It all sounded good. It's not hard to imagine that Kim Ogg was doing a bad job. 

DA Teare also made comments about the dark political situation we are confronting. These comments were what the Houston Democracy Project was looking to hear. 

DA Teare said we are dealing with a "climate of hate." He said the current moment is "reminiscent of the early 30's." He said "I'm not going to participate in whatever Reichstag Fire they create."  He also said that he would as DA be following the law. He spoke of his admiration for the Constitution. 

I appreciated that DA Teare acknowledged what is going on and was clear he's not going to go along with it.  

There is no complicated analysis needed from elected officials. Just please be frank about what is taking place & affirm that you'll do what is right. DA Teare met this standard last night. 

We are all going be tested in the days ahead.

We need the simple candor and strong commitment to right conduct we got from DA Teare last night, from all elected Democrats in Houston/Harris County. 

Insist on this candor and commitment from all of them no matter what office they hold. All elected officials take an oath to the Constitution & the Constitution is just what is at stake. 

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

​​Today is the 36th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Of course it can happen here. Trump wanted to use the military during the George Floyd protests. Trump is less restrained in this term than he was in his awful first term.

Some questions the Houston Democracy Project continues to ask--

* With HPD cooperating with ICE, what process is in place to make certain Houstonians will receive due process & not be sent/disappeared to places like the El Salvador torture prison?

* If/When the Trump Administration moves forward with threats to civil liberties such as the suspension of habeas corpus, will HPD resources be used to assist Trump?

We are going to have to show up no matter the challenges we are presented with in the difficult days ahead. 

​Find a June 14 protest near you. Here is a link to 6/14 protests in the Houston region and Texas.

Above is a cartoon featuring the famous man in front of a tank. 

Below is from the display area at the Statue of Liberty. I took the picture in April.

Hopefully the picture is still up at the statue. Trump and America today is no icon or inspiration for democracy movements worldwide, but each of us can be seen by others around the world living up to the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. 
​
Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

​There were 31 people today at Week 434 of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. Above you see the group today. 

The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest is each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. 

It is essential that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for freedom mo matter the aggression of the right. 

Street protest will be important in the challenging days ahead. The June 14 protests will be big. Find one near you. 
​
Some questions the Houston Democracy Project continues to ask--

* With HPD cooperating with ICE, what process is in place to make certain Houstonians will receive due process & not be sent/disappeared to places like the El Salvador torture prison?

 * If/When the Trump Administration moves forward with threats to civil liberties such as the suspension of habeas corpus, will HPD resources be used to assist Trump? 

Each of us are the main act. The institutions and the electeds are not able to protect themselves or keep us safe. There is little reason to trust they will take risks for us. 

Tomorrow is the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. 

Of course it can happen here. Trump wanted to use the military during the George Floyd protests. Trump is less restrained in this term than he was in his terrible first term. 

I am going to show up and show up and show up no matter the challenges ahead. I believe nothing is going to be more important than showing up and showing up. 

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

I spoke at the Spring Branch Democrats monthly meeting this evening.  Below is the handout I made for the meeting 

​Here is what I said in my recent talk at Indivisible Kingwood and at the Baytown Area Democrats. I made some of the same points at this evening's meeting. I'd be happy to speak at your club or organization.

Please consider contacting Houston City Council about some or all of the issues I mention below. Or for whatever reasons work for you. Houston City Council must be fully brought into the fight for democracy. 

Three issues you can contact Houston City Councilmembers about: 

1. With HPD cooperating with ICE, what process is in place to make certain Houstonians will receive due process & not be sent to places like the El Salvador torture prison?

2. If the Trump Administration moves forward with threats to civil liberties such as the suspension of habeas corpus, will HPD resources be used to assist Trump?

3.  When will the six Council Republicans be held to account for Republican cuts to National Weather Service, FEMA, research at the Texas Medical Center, NASA  and all the cuts impacting Houston? When will they speak up and advocate for Houston? 

Mayor Whitmire—713-837-0311 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Letitia Plummer 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is Tuesday at 2 PM. The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up speaker's list you'll be. The agenda session for Council business is Wednesday at 9 AM. Council can be watched live & also replayed on HTV Houston Television. I find it easiest to watch Council on the HTV Facebook page. 

Questions? Ideas? Neil Aquino-Houston Democracy Project [email protected] 

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.

​I’ll be active & out and about this week with my work on the Houston Democracy Project.

* Tomorrow, 6/2, I’m the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Spring Branch Democrats. 

I’ll talk about how we are the leaders in the difficult days ahead, that we must demand more of elected officials (Including Houston City Council Dems.), that elected Dems must defend the Democratic judges & how John Whitmire’s cooperation with ICE opens the door to the City of Houston being a being a partner with actions that violate due process and human rights.

The meeting is 6:30-7:30 at Taqueria Arandas at 1840 Wirt Road. I'd be happy to speak at your club/org meeting. I'm also speaking at the Democrats of La Porte meeting on 7/13.

​* Tuesday, 6/3, is Week 434 of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest——11:30-1 at 5300 Memorial Dr. Please consider joining for any amount of time that works for you. It’s essential that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for freedom.

Out on Houston streets for over eight years at the busy corner of Memorial & Detering, the Cornyn Protest sets the example for showing up no matter what. 

* Wednesday, 6/4, I’m going to the "End of session update" where some members of our Harris County Democratic Legislative delegation will be appearing. I’ll seek opportunity to ask our officials how they’ll be fulfilling the portion of their oath of office that directs them to defend the Constitution now that the legislative session is over.

My State Senator, Molly Cook, said recently her office will conduct a “Late Summer/Early Fall legislative debrief.” But in specific response to a question I asked her at a Town Hall she held in March, Senator Cook herself said we were in an authoritarian situation already.

​Action is needed now. Rank & file voters in Senate District 15 will be engaged throughout the hot summer fighting the authoritarian/white supremacist right. Senator Cook, and all elected Democrats, must fully join the fight.

This meeting is at the Communication Workers of America Hall at 10959 Ella Blvd from 6-7:30.

* Thursday, 6/5, is the weekly Houston Democracy Project hour on the Egberto Willies’ Politics Done Right show. This is from 6 AM -7 AM. We’ll be talking local politics and the fight for democracy right here in Houston/Harris County.

​You can listen on KPFT-FM 90.1 or at any time on Egberto's YouTube page. 
​
​I’ll also be posting on the Houston Democracy Project Blog over the week ahead, having one-on-one conversations, following and commenting on Houston City Council (As I do each week.) as Mayor Whitmire’s budget that slashes city services is discussed & maintaining an active social media presence. I have over 8000 followers on Blue Sky at neilaquino.bsky.social 

​The Houston Democracy Project is always on the go. Never forget that each of are the leaders in the difficult days ahead.

And be certain to look for a June 14 protest near you. It is going to be a big day. 

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight back. Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.