​​This past Monday, 1/12, I spoke at the monthly Bellaire/Braeswood Democrats meeting. I appreciated being invited. They had about 40 folks. There I am in the picture. 

This is part of my work on the Houston Democracy Project. I've spoken at many Democratic clubs, Indivisible chapters and organizing meetings as well as at the Downtown No Kings protests. I'd be happy to speak at your meeting. E-mail me at [email protected] or send me a message here and we'll set it up.

Here is what I said at this meeting: 

* Voting is not going to be enough to get us out this crisis.

* Conventional politics and protest are both essential. The line between the two is blurring all the time. We saw this in the successful response to the martial law declaration in South Korea last year.

​* At bottom line, police are not there to protect protestors. This is important to know when we are on the streets after habeas corpus is suspended or the state interferes in Harris County '26 elections.

* The No Kings Protests are helping build new networks of both rapid response and political organizing. They help people realize they have allies even in Republican areas.

* Trump’s new national security strategy document is a white supremacist authoritarian plan. Consider reading it so you can speak to it. A third or whatever portion of the country is committed to destroying the lives of Black people and that seems implacable over the centuries. We just have to proceed.

* ICE is an extermination unit in the making.

* Democratic voters have a right to demand standards for our elected officials. It was true for Kim Ogg and Shaun Thierry, and it is true for John Whitmire. It’s not a so-called “purity test.” It is our right to have expectations of the people we help elect.

​* We give a lot of free labor to candidates. It's exploitive in many respects. Politics is a multi-billion dollar industry. Many campaigns just extract resources like a strip mine.

* Republicans are attacking Democratic Harris County Criminal Court Judges not because they care about crime. It is the Civil Courts and control of big money verdicts that they want. 
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​* Primary candidates come and go like Christmas or Halloween pop up stores. Our need to live freely remains. You have to decide if fighting over them is worth it when they will be gone so quickly.

* Opposing authoritarians isn't going to be safe. We are going to have to accept some risk.

* We have a right to a collective identity as active rank and file democracy advocates and Democrats that is independent from candidates and elected officials. We must advocate for ourselves.

*The next action is when you organize it, the First Amendment is your permit, the only credential needed is your presence.

​State Representative Armando Walle spoke at Houston City Council today, 1/14, about funding for parks and other things obtained from the State of Texas. (There was also discussion of city/county partnerships for parks. That is good and something Mayor Whitmire deserves credit for helping make happen.)  

The long, self-congratulatory and often redundant conversation begins at the 35 minute point of the HTV broadcast of the meeting and ends at the 1 hour 48 minute point.  Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia also spoke at Council. 

The upshot from Rep. Walle and Mayor Whitmire was that if we look the other way at Republicans seeking to:

1. Subjugate the Western Hemisphere from Latin America to the Arctic Circle for white supremacy
2. Ethnically cleanse the nation with ICE 
3. Kill protestors in cold blood 
4. Take over Harris County elections in order to rig the outcome,

then we can get back from Austin some of the tax dollars we send the state.

Above you see Mayor Whitmire talking about dealing with both parties. We get it. There are two parties and Republicans are in power in Austin. He tells us that over and over. We know. 

It is not sustainable to ignore what is taking place in the Texas and the nation. It is not pragmatic, safe or wise. Our civil liberties are not a luxury. 

Reliance on the systems bringing the authoritarianism are not going to stop the authoritarianism. We can't be asked to ignore ICE and everything going on to get back tax dollars we are owed in the first place.  

It is more certain every day that the networks of opposition and protection needed to survive Trumpism must come from us. Elected officials want us dependent on them. We have to break free of that dependence. Access to our tax dollars is not contingent to giving up on our rights. I don't want elected officials making that bargain for us. They can't make that bargain for us. We can make the decision ourselves to resist. 

Here is an article from the Guardian from 1/13 about locally-organized protests on highway overpasses. Here is a bridge protest in Conroe this Sunday, 1/18 about the ICE murder of Keith Porter. Here are my comments from the October 18 No Kings protest in Downtown Houston. I spoke about our own power. 

There is a lot of trouble on the way. We must show up for ourselves. The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. 

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​There were seven Texas State Representatives who signed a letter targeted at Harris County Democratic Party Chairs, telling them to vote no on the recent admonition of Mayor John Whitmire. 

HCDP Chairs voted overwhelmingly to admonish Mayor Whitmire on December 14th because he helped Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw raise money and because he treats active Democrats with contempt. 

​The seven state reps who felt they somehow had a role in being in the business of the active rank & file
were Ana Hernandez, Suleman Lalani, Mary Ann Perez, Ron Reynolds, Senfronia Thompson, Hubert Vo & Armando Walle. 

Above is a tweet with a list of State Representatives that Greg Abbott intends to go after in 2026. Four of the representatives that signed the letter defending Mayor Whitmire are on Abbott's list. The tweet from late last year is from Houston Chronicle political reporter Benjamin Wermund. 

The four on Abbott's list who also came out for Whitmire are Walle, Hernandez, Perez and Vo. 

These four side with the bully Whitmire at home against the active rank and file who do so much to sustain the Democratic Party, and then get sand in kicked in their face by the bully Abbott for their troubles. 

Abbott said a few days ago that the State of Texas should take over Harris County elections. Abbott has also said he'll spend $25 million to defeat Democrats in Harris County in 2026. 

I've not seen Mayor Whitmire offer political opposition to Governor Abbott. The Mayor's anger is directed at Harris County Democratic Party Precinct Chairs.
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I'm certain these four Democrats targeted by Abbott will be asking for help from small donations and volunteers. People should help or not help as they wish. I'm not here to tell you what to do. 

​It would be just great for some of our elected officials to take on Republicans who are busy destroying our lives and futures, with the same energy they bring to criticizing Democratic Precinct Chairs. 

​​ICE protests/vigils in Houston region tomorrow, 1/10--

Indivisible Kingwood
11 AM-12:30 PM
Kingwood Dr & West Lake
Houston DSA/50501

Houston DSA/50501
12 PM- 2 PM
Houston City Hall
901 Bagby

Indivisible Fort Bend County
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
15300 University Blvd.
Sugar Land

12 PM- 2 PM
Pearland City Hall
3519 Liberty Dr.
(I don't see a group. I bet it is some folks who organized No Kings events in Pearland.)

Marsha Kamish/Indivisible Katy Huddle
12 PM - 1 PM
21010 Katy Freeway
(Park at the Holiday Inn between the hotel and the street.)

Cypress-Tomball Democrats 
1 PM-2:30 PM
SW corner of 1960 & 290

Galveston Island Democrats
12 PM-2 PM
4894 Seawall Blvd.

Sunday, 1/11--

We Rise Up
11 AM-1:30 PM
1403 N. Loop 336 W.
Conroe

Sorry if I've missed your event. 

It is great to see this rapid response across the Houston region. This is all grassroots organized. 

We need our own autonomous sense of collective identity as people ready for the difficult challenges ahead. We must be able to act on our own without waiting for elected officials or the next election. The work ahead is ours. 

The next protest or action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence.

​There are three protests/vigils today in the Houston-area about the ICE murder of Renee Good. This is good to see. We must have a culture of rapid response in Houston so that we can act on our own.

You see a graphic for one above and another below. 

There is also a protest at 1-10 and Westgreen at 5 pm. This is where Marsha Kamish & Indivisible Katy Huddle have held successful No Kings events.  It is at the NW. corner of the intersection. Park at the Holiday Inn.

The event below is held by State Rep. Christina Morales. Often I'd be wary of posting an event put on by an elected official. Sometimes those things are shock absorbers to inhibit activism or bypass grassroots. But Rep. Morales is a good faith actor who took the lead to organize the vigil tonight. 

The woman, Renee Good, murdered by ICE in Minneapolis yesterday was a rank & file active citizen. She was one of us. The fight ahead is ours. It is the everyday person who will be most burdened by the challenges ahead.

The next protest or action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence.

We need our own autonomous sense of collective identity as people ready for the difficult challenges ahead. We must be able to act on our own without waiting for elected officials. The work ahead is ours. 

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​The woman murdered by ICE in Minneapolis today is Renee Nicole Good. Above is a Minneapolis Star-Tribune picture of where she was killed.

Ms. Good was a rank & file active citizen. She was one of us. The fight ahead is ours. It is the everyday person who will be most burdened by the challenges ahead.

The next protest or action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence.

We need our own autonomous sense of collective identity as people ready for the difficult challenges ahead. We must be able to act on our own without waiting for elected officials. The work ahead is ours. 

There were 46 patriots at today's, 1/6, John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. It is the fifth anniversary of the Jo

We are going to have to show up for ourselves. Please join us each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. There is a lot of trouble ahead & we must show up for ourselves.

People must see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for freedom no matter the aggression of the right.

Tuesday, January 27th, will be our ninth anniversary at the corner of Memorial & Detering. Please join us. We have extra signs or you can bring your own sign. We are very friendly. 

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​Above is the 1st page & below the 2nd page of a letter to ICE in Houston from District J Councilmember Edward Pollard. It asks that ICE stop wearing masks & also properly identify themselves in Houston as they brutally abduct people. Please read it as you educate yourself about how Houston elected officials are addressing ICE in Houston. I appreciate the letter. It is a step forward.

Alejandra Salinas takes office tomorrow, 1/6 as an At-Large member of Council. A big part of her campaign pitch was a willingness to talk about ICE working with HPD even it means conflict with Mayor Whitmire. Many people voted for her because this is what she said she would do.

I'm going to have more to say about ICE and the City of Houston after this week's Council session. Let's see where we are after Council's holiday break. During the time off, a NY Times story reported Houston first in the nation in ICE arrests.

The ongoing white supremacist, authoritarian subjugation of the Western Hemisphere by Trump and his Klan of criminals is very bad. You and I don't have aircraft carriers or satellites to push back.

What we do have is our rights and our voice. We have the courage we can muster and the ability to allocate time and effort so we can have our freedom, and so other people can be free. Let's use the resources we do have here at home with Houston City Council & Mayor Whitmire.

Appeasement of Trump/Vance/Miller will not end well for us. Every officeholder takes an oath to protect the Constitution. Fighting back is the responsibility of every elected official.

Below is information for following and interacting with Houston City Council: 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:30 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. You must register to speak by 3 PM the day before. 

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 maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council. 

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

Democrats: 
At-Large-Alejandra Salinas 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] ​​

​There are two Houston protests Tuesday, January 6th, to mark five years since the insurrection attempt by the traitors. 

Indivisible Kingwood will be at 2499 Green Oak Dr. from 10 AM-11 AM with a "Never Forget" protest. This is the intersection of Kingwood Dr. and Green Oak. 

Cindi Hendrickson and Indivisible Kingwood do a great job as citizen leaders. The Tuesday, 1/6, protest will substitute for the weekly Thursday Dan Crenshaw Protest.

Don't park in the plaza with the Big City Wings unless you are buying something in the plaza. Hold on to your receipt. Make sure you are parked in a legal spot. 

The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will be out on January 6th as well. We meet each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. This will be our 465th week. 

You can park on the side streets along and around the Black Walnut on Memorial. Don’t park in any private lot. 

Both these protests are fully grassroots. You can organize a January 6th protest or any protest you like. 

The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. 

Trump has pardoned most all the traitors. Some of them are now seeking millions of tax dollars as payment for the rightful punishments they received. 

The task ahead is up to us. Voting is not going to be enough. Let's show up for ourselves. 

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​Happy New Year from the Houston Democracy Project. 

The picture is of the sunset from up in the air with the goo from de-icing the plane on the window. The flight was a few days ago from Cincinnati to Houston. 

​It is going to be a difficult year ahead. But we will stay our course. 

Here is a link to the photography section of the Project website.