​I had a good-faith private ten minute conversation yesterday, 5/6, with one of the Houston City Councilmembers who switched on the ICE vote. It doesn't matter who it was. I'm not criticizing the person. I appreciated the talk.

(Above is picture I took of 2015 Veterans Day at Houston City Hall.)

The councilmember talked about the potential of lost resources from the state if the ICE ordinance had been allowed to stand. That's been the argument in favor of greatly diluting the ordinance.

It occurred to me later that this is the exact same point made at the beginning of each Texas Legislative session. Some Democrats-fewer every session-say we have to vote for a Republican Speaker and plead for committee assignments so that we can get whatever Republicans choose to grant.

Now the legislature is getting set to dismantle majority-minority legislative districts in the 2027 session & legislative Republicans support Trump and Abbott no matter how far-right they go.

I keep asking what/where is the off ramp? When do you stop cooperating? What happens when our Harris County elections are interfered with? When does it become a Vichy-type collaboration? The state and federal governments intend us tremendous harm. They are already doing us tremendous harm. They are coming for all our rights.

We are navigating without guardrails. But we do know that business as usual has failed. We have to ask ourselves everyday and assess everyday how to protect ourselves, fight back and move forward.

​My wager is that appeasing the current-day Republican Party is a losing bet.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. The work ahead is ours.

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​Here I am yesterday at Week 482 of the John Cornyn Houston Office with signs that say "The Next Action Is When You Organize It" & "The First Amendment Is Our Permit"

Thanks to Mauri Bird Lucas for making the signs & taking the pictures.

The last part which I don't have a sign for is "The Only Credential Needed Is Your Presence."

It is more clear everyday that Trump & Republicans don't intend to accept bad outcomes in 2026 elections.
Mayor Whitmire talked today in his budget press conference about more police overtime $ for protest. He specifically addressed that topic. The mayor says nothing about destruction of the Voting Rights Act. He has already made clear he supports HPD working with ICE.

The City of Houston has made clear they will never have our backs no matter the attacks on our freedom from the state & federal governments.

The work ahead is ours. Voting is not going to be enough.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment your permit. The only credential needed is your presence.

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​Here is a Texas Tribune article about the likely prospect of the Texas Legislature redistricting state legislative maps for the 2028 election. This task would be accomplished in the 2027 legislative session. They can do this because of the recent Voting Rights Act decision at the Supreme Court. 

(Above is a picture of the Texas House of Representatives I took in 2021.)

​As far as as I can see, there 3 ways to stop this from happening:

1. Elect a Democratic Governor.
2. Elect a Democratic Lt. Governor who would not allow the Texas Senate to take up the matter.
3. Elect a Democratic Texas House majority.
(There does not seem a realistic prospect of a Texas Senate majority.)

I hope we see our safe Harris County legislative incumbents campaigning relentlessly in 2026 in Harris County and wherever needed in Texas. This would be a great time for Rodney Ellis and Carol Alvarado to spend some of the millions they keep in their campaign bank accounts.

It's clear that business as usual has collapsed for us. Many of the hard-won gains of the Civil Rights movement are out the window. We'll be asked to donate and volunteer. Grift as usual for consultants and for electeds who don't show up for us will go on as normal.

We can't just sit back and accept this. Hold Democratic electeds accountable like never before in 2026. Our freedom depends on it.

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​

​Yesterday I spoke at a Unitarian Church in The Woodlands at May Day event put on by a coalition of pro-democracy groups in Montgomery County.

This is part of my work on the Houston Democracy Project. There I am speaking above. I’d like to speak at your club or org.meeting. E-mail at [email protected] Thank you.

This was the first time I spoke at a church. I wanted to cast out evil to the fiery pit.

Here is some of what I said instead:

* The lines between electoral politics and protest are blurring. We can do both. Many people active in electing Democrats are also organizing and taking part in protest.

* We must assert our own autonomous power. We are building our own power day-by-day, and also building rapid response networks for when habeas corpus is suspended or Abbott/Trump interferes in our elections.

* No Kings protests which drew a record number of people in a record number of locations, were an assertion of our autonomous power. We are building a bypass of structures that would inhibit our capacity to act on behalf of ourselves.

* The Voting Rights Act Decision is a nightmare. You take representation from people because you intend to deport, enslave and kill them.

* There is no bottom line to what the right intends.

* Opposing an authoritarian/white supremacist opponent will not be inherently safe. We have 1st Amendment rights and we have 2nd Amendment rights.

​* The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. The work ahead is ours.

​There are many May Day protests across the nation and across the Houston-region. 

We are encouraged to skip school, not go to work and not to buy anything. Here is the May Day Strong website with an overview. 

Here is a list of many of them across the Houston-region. 

Here is the event I'm speaking at in The Woodlands. I'll talk about empowering ourselves. The event is 2 to 6. I'm speaking around 2:30. It's at the Northlands Unitarian Universalist Church.

​Different May Day events across the Houston-region are taking different approaches. 

​Above you see a graphic for three Houston events organized by the coalition highlighted by the logos. Houston Democratic Socialists have taken a lead with these protests. This might be your thing. 

Below you see an event at McGregor Park in Houston being put together by local organized labor. You see the union logos and TOP and all of that. You see it is the only one that mentions connecting with local political campaigns. That's fine. I hope politicians who benefit from this, will show up for protests in the future. 

Finally you see a fully rank & file organized May Day in event in Katy. The theme in Katy is Workers over Billionaires. This protest is more my kind of deal. No financial resources and no connections to any established group. It's essential that we know who will show up for one another in a crisis. We must be in the habit of organizing for ourselves. 

Marsha Kamish is a citizen/organizer who is leading the organizing on May Day in Katy just as she has for Katy No Kings and other events. Go to the linked-to list above to find an event near you. There are a number of them. 

The next event is the you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. The work ahead is ours. 

​I've been fortunate enough to be asked to speak on four occasions in the past six weeks. I spoke at the East Houston Democrats March meeting, the March 28 No Kings protest downtown, the April Bayou Blue Democrats meeting and the Spring Democratic Club Spring Democratic Club meeting few days ago. 

(Above is the crowd in Spring. Below is East Houston, No Kings & me speaking at Bayou Blue.) 

East Houston represents Democrats in Sheldon, Galena Park and Channelview. Bayou Blue speaks for Democrats in neighborhoods including Montrose, River Oaks and Greenway Plaza. Spring Democrats serves North Harris County and Klein in addition to Spring. On Friday, May 1st, I'm a speaker at the May Day protest and rally in The Woodlands Montgomery County. 

I'm really appreciative to be asked by fellow rank & file Democrats and democracy advocates to speak. I'm an effective speaker to any audience and in any part of the Houston-region.  I'd be happy to speak to your club or organization. Please message me or e-mail at [email protected] and we'll set it up. 

Here are seven things I've been saying:

​1. The lines are blurring between conventional politics and protest. Both are essential. The people running the country and running Texas do not see much difference between dissent and voting.. The goal is to criminalize opposition. All opposition will be seen as inciting violence and seeking to undermine the government. That opposition is us. You may or may not want to view yourself as on the front line of an anti-fascist struggle. But the right views it as so just by the fact we oppose them.

2. We have a right to a collective identity and power as active rank and file democracy advocates and Democrats, that is independent from official party structures, candidates and elected officials. Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair admonishments of Kim Ogg, Shawn Thierry and John Whitmire are just some examples of this autonomy and power. Elected officials are our elected employees. You don't have to allow candidates and electeds who don't help the full Democratic slate to even address your club. 

3. March 28 No Kings protests were in a record number of cities and drew an overall record crowd. They were organized by people just like us. They were an expression of our autonomous power.  We have seen with the martial law crisis in South Korea and the resistance to ICE in Minnesota, that we must show up for ourselves.

4. We give a lot of free labor to candidates. It's often exploitive. Sometimes candidates don't money they promised. Politics is a multi-billion dollar industry. Many campaigns extract resources like a West Virginia strip mine. Primary candidates come and go like Christmas or Halloween pop up stores. Our need to live freely remains. We must organize ourselves.

 5. The recent process with the City of Houston/ICE ordinance shows that HPD is an extension of what Greg Abbott wants. Local control of HPD and HPD respect for local civilian direction that does exist are both in doubt. Also, there seems no opportunity through the conventional political process at Houston City Hall to meaningfully push back or even slightly mitigate, any outrage from  our authoritarian, white supremacist state and federal governments. We must organize ourselves. 

6. Police union endorsements must become toxic in Democratic primaries and in 2027 City of Houston municipal elections. At-Large Houston City Council Republicans Twila Carter and Willie Davis must be defeated and a better and more responsive Houston City Council is needed. Let's begin that work now. 

7. The next action is when you organize it, the First Amendment is your permit, The only credential needed is your presence. You don’t need to feel self-confident to act. Just proceed. The work ahead is ours.

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​


​Observations from the ICE/City of Houston ordinance fight:

1. There is no abuse from our authoritarian, white supremacist state and federal governments that will cause Mayor Whitmire & Houston City Council to push back or take any risk for our rights.

(Picture is Mayor Whitmire reporting at 4/22 council session on who is charge at Houston City Hall.)

​2. HPD is an extension of what Greg Abbott wants. HPD sent out a directive telling officers to not comply with the ordinance even before it was gutted yesterday. Local control of HPD and HPD respect for local civilian direction that does exist are both in doubt.

3. There is work already underway to find progressive and more responsive Houston City Council candidates for 2027. This effort can help connect and organize across communities in Houston beyond the electoral mission. Please join this effort.

4. Three top goals for 2027 are defeating right-wing At-Large Councilmembers Twila Carter & Willie Davis and also electing someone good in District A. District A was carried by Kamala Harris in 2024, but is represented at council by term-limited Republican Amy Peck. Share word of these goals with others so we can lay the groundwork of awareness now for 2027.

5. Endorsement by the Houston Police Officer’s Union must become an electoral toxin in 2027 municipal elections.

6. In part because there is no process through conventional political channels at Houston City Hall where city government will attempt to defend our rights, we must organize ourselves and show up for ourselves.
The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. The work ahead is ours.

​Here is the process the ICE/City of Houston ordinance has taken at Houston City Hall & information on contacting council:

* On March 19, Councilmembers Salinas, Kamin and Pollard proposed the ordinance. This was at a press conference you see above.

* According to Councilmember Salinas, the ordinance as originally written accomplished the following:

1. HPD won't be required to contact ICE for civil administrative warrants
2. Traffic stops end when their lawful purpose ends — not when ICE arrives
3. Transparency reports on HPD's contact with ICE

* Unelected City Attorney Arturo Michel removed the first provision of the ordinance saying it was not legal. This despite the fact the three councilmembers who proposed the ordinance are attorneys & Ms. Kamin is the Democratic nominee for Harris County Attorney. Below you see Mr. Michel at the 3/19 press conference.

* On April 8, Houston City Council passed the ordinance by 12-5. Voting Yes: Whitmire, Ramirez, Salinas, Alcorn, Jackson, Kamin, Evans-Shabazz, Thomas, Castillo, Martinez, Pollard, Castex-Tatum. Voting No: Carter, Davis, Peck, Flickinger, Huffman.

* Soon after the vote, the Houston Police Officers’ Union threw a fit. The union made various contradictory and angry statements. They seem to have a problem with reliable decision making while under stress.

* Governor Abbott announced he would defund law enforcement grants for Houston unless the ordinance is repealed. Councilmember Salinas and her colleagues who proposed the ordinance said the city should fight the governor. Mayor Whitmire disagreed.

​* Mayor Whitmire scheduled and then canceled a special session of Houston City Council to repeal the ordinance for Friday, April 17. He didn’t have the votes.

* Mayor Whitmire now says he’ll seek to amend the ordinance rather than repeal it. Repealing the ordinance within 90 days of passage requires a 2/3’s majority of 12 votes. Amending it requires a simple majority of 9. They will gut the ordinance to satisfy Abbott and the police union.

* The ordinance will be discussed by Houstonians at the Public Comment session tomorrow, 4/21 & the Whitmire-amended ordinance which I imagine will be voted on at the Agenda Session on Wednesday, 4/22. There is a protest at City Hall tomorrow at 2.

* Each of us have the ability to contact Houston City Council and tell them that the City of Houston should not yield at every turn to our authoritarian, white supremacist state and federal governments. Contact information is below.

* The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. The work ahead is ours.

Mayor Whitmire 832-393-1000 [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]

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​







​The fight over the City of Houston/ICE ordinance is about far more than the ordinance.

Mayor Whitmire, the senior leadership at HPD & the bullying far-right police union, want a Houston Police Department under direct control of Greg Abbott. And by extension Donald Trump. They want us to give up on fighting for democracy at Houston City Hall. 

This is why we must contact council, show up in protest at the Tue., 2 PM, 4/21 Public Comment session & speak at council at that session. You can certainly e-mail them over this weekend.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence.

You can sign up to speak up until Mon., 4/21, 3 PM. Here is the link to do so. You can e-mail or call to sign up.

Below is contact information for council. 

​Mayor Whitmire 832-393-1000 [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]

Here is what the fight over the City of Houston/ICE ordinance has made clear:

1. John Whitmire believes Greg Abbott's Abbott's opinions are law.
​
2. There is no prospect through the conventional political process at Houston City Hall, to mitigate to even small measure any policy or action of the federal government or State of Texas government.

3. HPD will execute any state or federal instruction without hope that John Whitmire will meaningfully object.

4. World Cup soccer games are more important to Houston City government than is fighting for our rights.

5. Please give a brief thought each day to the need to defeat Republican At-Large Councilmembers Twila Carter & Willie Davis in 2027. Tell others about how bad they are.

6. We are going to have to show up for ourselves. And we should never give up at Houston City Hall no matter the discouragement.

Above you see notice of a protest at Houston City Hall at 9 AM on Friday, 4/17. This is when the ordinance repeal meeting will be held. There is also a graphic on how to sign up to speak on Friday. You can sign up to speak until 3 PM tomorrow, 4/16.

Below is information to contact Houston City Council. The Harris County Republican Party is asking people to show up at the meeting and to call council.

Push back in the way that works for you. Please be ready challenging days ahead.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence.

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:00 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 past sessions are 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—832-393-1000 [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] ​​​

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