​As you see above, there is a drive to get people to come to the monthly evening public comment session of Houston City Council this upcoming Tuesday, 11/18. The topic is City of Houston cooperation with ICE. This cooperation has been going on for a while, but only recently did Mayor Whitmire stop trying to hide it. (If you sign up, there will likely be so many speakers that you'll get just one minute to speak even if you sign up for two or three. So have a one minute speech ready.) 

This effort for Tuesday is being made by the groups you see listed in the graphic. Take a look at the logos and be mindful of the efforts these folks are making. If one or more of these groups seems interesting to you, look them up and see how you can help them out. 

In addition to essential issue of right treatment of immigrants, ICE is a Trump personal-militia in the making. ICE is a tremendous civil liberties threat and this must be addressed as well. 

Here is the link from Houston Democratic Socialists of America to join the effort for Thursday. 

Maybe you are a part of a group not listed above. You could encourage your colleagues in that group to come to council next Tuesday or to some other public comment day that works. 

You also always have the ability to organize on your own or just go on your own. The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting is not going to be enough.

Whatever works for you and the people in your networks is good. Nobody is coming to organize most of us. There are too many of us and we are cities, suburbs, small towns and rural areas all across the Houston region. Do what works for who you are, who you know and where you are. 

You can also contact Mayor Whitmire and Houston City Council at any point. The contact information along with the party affiliation of each councilmember is below. 

Each of us are the leaders in the fight above. We cannot rely on elected officials or on the systems that have brought us this nightmare. 

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-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] ​​

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 on Egberto's YouTube channel. 

​Today, 11/13, I took part in a press conference held by Greater Houston LULAC Council 4967. This is part of my work on the Houston Democracy Project. The subject of the press conference was the brutal conduct of ICE in Houston and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. The event was held in the parking lot of a Home Depot along the I-45 S. feeder road just past the Woodridge exit. 

Dr. Sergio Lira is the President of Council 4967. 

Above is me speaking this morning. 

Here is what I said: 

"We've got to come together across communities. 

Whether it is ICE in Houston, attacks on the Voting Rights Act and redistricting, refusal to extend SNAP benefits and a willingness to let people starve, ignoring court orders or erasing the Pride Crosswalk and threats to the Black Lives Matter crosswalk--It is all connected. 

We've got to come together across communities. We can hang together or hang separately." 

The proceedings were recorded by the staff of State Rep. Christiana Morales. Rep. Morales has been out front in addressing ICE and Mayor Whitmire's lack of transparency about HPD cooperation with ICE. 

Houston Councilmember Abbie Kamin was also present. At Houston City Council on 11/12, Councilmember Kamin correctly referenced Neville Chamberlin-type appeasement to describe the overall City of Houston absence of response to the authoritarian malevolence of the current federal administration. 

I was glad to be there this morning & I strongly encourage everyone to speak up. They are coming for all of us. Each of us are the leaders in the difficult days ahead. 

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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​​

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There was discussion at Houston City Council today, 11/12, regarding HPD cooperation with ICE. 

During the discussion, Democratic District I Councilmember Joaquin Martinez and Mayor Whitmire asked Houston Police Officer's Union President Douglas Griffith to talk about HPD and ICE.  Mr. Griffith's comments begin at the 2 hour and 4 minute point of the meeting as recorded on HTV.  

It's frustrating that Mr. Griffith was asked to talk about this subject. Mr. Griffith's union has endorsed many elected officials who support ICE. Mr. Griffith is a problem rather than a solution. Below you see the ad the police union recently ran telling New York City police officers to come to Houston because of the election of Zohran Mamdani. 

It would have been best to have HPD itself as part of the conversation. HPD is accountable to the public. The police union is not. 

During his exchange with Mayor Whitmire and members of Council, Mr. Griffith had input on how Houstonians should speak when talking about ICE. You see him above in his comments today. (The caption mangled Mr. Griffith's comments to say the word "corks." There was no discussion of corks or wine at council today.) In his testimony/comments at council today Mr. Griffith said multiple times that rhetoric that involved the word "fight" could be interpreted as encouraging violence directed at ICE officers. 

People saying we should "fight' ICE or that we are in a "fight' to stop human rights and due process violations by ICE are not encouraging violence. They are using a common word to describe First Amendment protected peaceful political activity. It is the same First Amendment that protects the idiotic advertisement HPOU directed at New York City. 

Mr. Griffith also had a lot of input for councilmembers how they should contact him before "crazy e-mails" are sent out. I don't wager elected officials need to run public remarks by a police officer. 

​Th only councilmember to push back at Mr. Griffith's remarks was Abbie Kamin. Councilmember Kamin has repeatedly been discussing civil liberties and the conduct of ICE. 

We must protect our rights. Our basic Constitutional rights are not a luxury or some kind of privilege. Protecting the Constitution is in the Oath taken by elected officials and police officers. 

Councilmember Martinez is a good faith actor trying to navigate difficult circumstances. I ask him to broaden his approach to this issue to fully include civil liberties concerns that are at the core of what it means to be an American. 

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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​

At today’s, 11/11, Week 457 of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest, the man you see in the SUV in the first picture stopped and asked us some questions. He was polite and no trouble. We don’t need to know his name or anything about him. All good. (This week's group photo is the 2nd picture.) 

One question I’m told he asked, I was not in the conversation, was are we funded in any way or who is funding us?  

In the interest of transparency, let me detail the financial history of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. 

Maybe 6 or 7 years ago (Six-Seven), a woman stopped at the traffic light on Detering handed one of us a $5 bill and said something along the lines that it was for our expenses. I believe I still have the $5. 

This is the financial history of the nearly nine years of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest.

It is not much distant from the financial record of many (Most all.)of the recent No Kings protests which gathered nearly 8 million people on October 18th. Rank and file people took the lead and made a difference. 

The fight ahead is ours. Voting is essential, and our ability to show up for ourselves and respond as needed is essential. Both are necessary for the difficult days ahead. 

The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting is not going to be enough. 

The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest is each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Drive. Don't park in any private lot as you might be towed. There is parking on the side streets bordering and in the vicinity of the Black Walnut on Memorial. Bring whatever sign you'd like or we have plenty of extras. We are a friendly crew.

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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​

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UPDATE!! This protest has been canceled because the location does not work. All part of the process and still served as a way for new people to connect. 

Governor Greg Abbott is having a fundraiser this Sunday, 11/9, here in Houston.

Two protests are being organized. You see details for both in the pictures above and below. Please attend if able
The events are being organized by Cindi Hendrickson and Peter Foster who don’t know each other, but definitely should. I connected them on Facebook. 

If you have organized an event and you see someone else also doing the same, then reach out to them to help build and solidify our autonomous networks of action, protection and power.

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

We must be organizing ourselves, have our own rapid response capabilities, and not be dependent on establishment or official resources for our own freedom.

It is essential to vote and it is essential we take up for ourselves directly. Both are necessary in the current political circumstance. Let’s do both.

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Mayor John Whitmire says the big delays at Bush and Hobby Airport are because of “…TSA employees not coming to work.” He said this at the Wednesday, 11/5, session of Houston City Council. 

The full quote is “First of all let me just thank the airport system for dealing with unbearable conditions due to TSA employees not coming to work.” It is at the one hour 26 minute point of yesterday's (11/6) Council session. Above you see Mayor Whitmire in his comments yesterday. 

There are reasons TSA staff are missing work. 

From NPR station WHYY In Philadelphia: 

​"Morale is low right now for Philadelphia International Airport worker...said Joe Shuker, Region 7 vice president for AFGE Council 100, the union representing Philly’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.  How low? “On a scale of 1 to 10, we’re a negative-2 right now,” he said. The last paycheck that airport workers received reflected the start of the shutdown and was several hundred dollars short, Shuker said..... The lack of pay is going to stress out TSA workers who are already working high-stakes jobs. “You got us down here checking for bombs,” he said....They’re going to be distracted at some point,” he said. “They’re going to be worried about how they’re going to feed their kid, and how they’re getting to work tomorrow.”  He said some workers may not be able to cover childcare costs without subsequent paychecks. Additionally, he said he has spoken to employees who are struggling to cover the price of gas or tolls to travel to work. "

​Surely there was a union representative or advocate Mayor Whitmire could have brought to Council for public testimony about why TSA is not at work. That would have helped the public understand what the workers are enduring. 

The government shutdown due to the white supremacist, authoritarians running the country also has a lot to do with TSA employees not coming to work. 

According the Mayor Whitmire, everyone is to blame other than Donald Trump and the far-right for the federal government attacks on Houston and cities across the country. 

​Here is what Mayor Whitmire said in a recent interview with the New York Times:

“Most major cities are in turmoil,” Mr. Whitmire said. “We’re not.”.......With rhetoric escalating over immigration raids and National Guard troop deployments, Mayor Whitmire is betting that the best way to govern a large American city right now is to keep your head down.....Mr. Whitmire, in a series of interviews with The New York Times, faulted other Democratic mayors such as Brandon Johnson in Chicago and Karen Bass in Los Angeles for loud public challenges to the president over immigration enforcement and other issues that have only deepened divisions."

There is no major city in "turmoil."  To the extent there is trouble, it is because ICE is terrorizing people and federal troops are being sent where not needed. Is Mayor Whitmire telling us he'll say nothing if low-flying federal helicopters are used to raid Houston apartment buildings like we saw in Chicago?

Our abusers are the problem. Not us. Not TSA employees. Not the immigrants ICE is brutalizing. The problem is the people in power. Not the people out of power and out of a paycheck. 

When habeas corpus is suspended or Harris County elections are interfered with by the state and federal government in 2026, Mayor Whitmire will know just who to blame. 

He'll blame us. 

​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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​

​Tomorrow, 11/4, is Week 456 of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. The Protest is echoing Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. Don't park in any private lot to avoid being towed. You can park along the side streets near the Black Walnut on Memorial. We have extra signs or bring your own. Any amount of time you join us is the correct amount of time to be with us. We are friendly.

It's essential that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy and freedom no matter the aggression and lawlessness of the right. Join us and help set the example. 

I've become a big believer in showing up as often as I can and saying much the same thing over and over. It's try to be smart and I think it takes some brains to do that. 

Here is what I said when I spoke at the Downtown Houston No Kings protest on October 18: 

My name is Neil Aquino. I’m the founder of the Houston Democracy Project. 

This event today was organized by people just like you and I. Rank & file volunteers who stepped up. The resources to stage this protest are for the most part directly from our local community. 

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

This protest is Downtown. But it’s at not the center. Across the Houston-region today, there are No Kings demonstrations in La Porte, Navasota, Katy, Richmond, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Pasadena, Pearland, The Woodlands, Coldspring & Bryan/College Station. 

No community is on the periphery. No person is on the periphery. We are all in this fight.  

We are at Houston City Hall. There is a mayor, a city controller and 16 council members. The Mayor is John Whitmire. The Controller is Chris Hollins. The Mayor Pro Tem is Martha Castex-Tatum. There are 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans on Council. 

Local government and local officials matter. Just last week, people in Conroe, in deeply conservative Montgomery County, went to city hall and successfully opposed an ordinance proposed by the police chief that would have restricted protest. 

Every elected official takes an oath to the Constitution. They must meet that oath. When ICE rounds up people without cause, elected officials must remember the oath they took. Call, e-mail and speak to Houston City Council. You can speak at Council most Tuesdays at 2 PM. Learn the details of the process and demand local accountability.  

Our opponents seek to criminalize political opposition and restrict free speech. They didn’t scare us off today. We are confronting authoritarians and white supremacists. It will not be inherently safe. The thing is of course, that a future under authoritarian, white supremacist government that can’t be removed, will also not be safe and it will be terrible. 

We have rights. We have First Amendment rights, and as we’ve been told over and over all our lives, we have Second Amendment rights. We have the right to show up, to speak up and to self-defense. 

We are the ones who will show up when habeas corpus is suspended, when Greg Abbott does not permit Harris County to have free and fair elections in 2026, when low flying helicopters terrorize Houston communities as we’ve seen in Chicago. 

The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential you need is your presence. No community is on the periphery. No person is on the periphery. We are all in this fight.  

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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​
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Above you see a note a woman drove up and handed to one of our crew at last week’s John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. 

The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest is each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. Next week will be Week 456. 

Here is my response to this note: 

1. Thank you for taking the time and effort to offer unsolicited acknowledgment that we are seen and heard.Good to know. How about next week you bring us lunch? 

2. We find authoritarians and white supremacists running the country to be stressful. This stress is constant rather than the 90 minutes a week we are protesting. If you are content with the insurrection attempt of January 6th, 2021, I'm certain you can take 90 minutes of lawful First Amendment activity each Tuesday. 

3. We are wary of anyone telling us that they don’t like how we protest. It is unlikely you are here to offer helpful suggestions. 

4. My father found serving as a medic in the Korean War to be stressful. He was glad though to have a hand in bringing some democracy to South Korea, and to have served in the first racially integrated combat units. 

Because of people like you, Trump pines for the approval of the North Korean dictator, hassles high-ranking Black officers and demoralizes Black enlisted men and women. My father and many like him paid a substantial price for the things you are now helping undo. 

5. We would not be here causing you upset if you had made better and more kind decisions at the ballot box. 

6. Instead of handing us a note opposing us, you should instead support us and join us. Why do you insist on compounding your error at the ballot box with this bad note? Please employ your efforts more productively.  

And as always to everyone reading this: The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential you need is your presence. Voting is not going to be enough. 
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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 on Egberto's YouTube channel. 

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Here is the Houston Democracy Project Grassroots Freedom Calendar for October 31-November 10. There are  two events after 11/10 as well because it is good to keep ahead of things. 

Please tell folks this resource exists & leave a comment if I'm missing something. I mostly feature autonomous actions outside the networks of elected officials & traditional organizing groups. Nobody is coming to organize most of us. The task ahead is ours. 

The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential you need is your presence. Voting is not going to be enough. 

The Houston Democracy Project works everyday to promote fellow-organizers doing the work across the Houston-region. It takes effort and expense. Please use the button above or the button below to contribute. My efforts are as good or bette an investment than most political campaigns. My work offers return to local communities and organizers. 

Here is the list: 

Friday, 10/31 & 11/7--Weekly Protest organized by Marsha Kamish at the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer from noon to one. They get strong support from passers-by at a busy intersection. There is parking. 

​Saturday, 11/1--We Rise Up-Fight For Democracy, 501 N. Thompson, 9 AM-12 PM. You see the details in the picture above. This protest takes place every two weeks. These are the people who went to Conroe City Hall to helped defeat a proposed ordinance that would have restricted protest in the city. 

Sunday, 11/2--There is a protest I've seen word of on Tik Tok taking place on the Woodlands Parkway Overpass over I-45, to oppose the masked anti-immigrant men who were camped up there for all to see last week. The event I saw listed was 10 AM- 2 PM and said to bring signs. I think it's legit and I'm glad to see a reply to those bad men. But to be clear, I did not see a group associated with the protest. 

Tuesday, 11/4 & 11/11 —Week 456 & 457 of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest, 11:30-1 at 5300 Memorial Dr. It is important people see others like themselves standing openly and confidently for freedom no matter the aggression of the right. There are extra signs or you can bring your own. You can park on the side streets near the Black Walnut on Memorial. Do not park in any private lot. 

Thursday, 11/6—Egberto Willies’ Politics Done Right broadcasts the weekly Houston Democracy Project hour from 6 AM-7 AM. Politics Done Right is on KPFT 90.1 every weekday morning from 6 to 7 & there is also Egberto’s 3 PM show on YouTube. Egberto is essential local independent media who merits support.

Thursday, 11/6--Weekly protest at office of Dan Crenshaw, 10 AM-11 AM, at intersection of Kingwood and Green Oak. This is from Indivisible Kingwood. 

Details: We meet up at the intersection of Kingwood Drive and Green Oak Drive at 10:00 a.m. Bring your favorite sign or pick one up there. You will be trespassing if you park in the shopping center with Big City Wings, unless you purchase something from one of the businesses. If you do buy something and park there, hold on to your receipt. Wherever you decide to park, make sure you’re legal! Once you have arrived, find your spot and be seen! Feel free to move around, but always stay on public property. We are a law-abiding group. Since we are individuals, you are not restricted to just this location. Some attendees like to gather in front of Crenshaw’s office.

Monday, 11/10--Fort Bend Indivisible monthly meeting, 6 PM-8 PM, University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd, Sugar Land 

They are going to be watching and discussing a movie. Here are the details: Vigilantes, Inc.: America's New Vote Suppression Hitmen isn't your typical political documentary. This award-winning investigation by Greg Palast (narrated by Rosario Dawson, introduced by Martin Sheen) exposes the shocking truth behind the 2024 election—not through partisan talking points, but through hard data and historical context.

Tuesday, 11/11-Bi-weekly Indivisible Kingwood meeting, 6 PM-8 PM, Skeeter's Mesquite Grill 4121 W. Lake Houston. This is a strong grassroots group and they discuss upcoming events. 
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Monday, 11/24--No Avelo Airlines, 7800 W. Airport Blvd, 3 PM-4 PM. This is being staged by Marsha Kamish & Indivisible Katy Huddle.

Details: Avelo Airlines has been selected by the regime in office to fly people they have illegally deported outside of the country. Our rally/protest is to voice our dissent to this action and bring awareness to all those flying in and out of Hobby Airport.

Friday, 11/28-Christmas is Canceled, Woodlands Mall & Market Street, 9 AM-2 PM. 

Details: "This year, Christmas is canceled. We are done feeding the corporate machine that exploits workers, raises prices, and manipulates our traditions for profit. While corporations grow richer, everyday Americans are struggling just to get by. On Black Friday, we’re taking a stand. We will boycott every major corporation, refuse to spend our money on mass-produced consumerism, and encourage others to buy used, buy local, or buy nothing at all."

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.