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I won't be able to update the blog for a few days, so I'm going to leave here my recent list of ways to approach the current distressing political situation and things you can consider doing as we keep up the fight. 

Above is a picture of the successful Houston 50501 protest this past Saturday with a bubble in the upper right. I saw the bubble and got the picture quick. 

​Here is the list:

1. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish. Win elections? Build community? Protest? All these things have value. None are exclusive of the others. You can divide your efforts between these and other efforts. You have solid judgement and there is no clearly correct course. Do your best according to your skills, goals and the demands of the moment. 

2. We must fully understand the stakes so we can fight as needed. Musk does want to tank the economy. The goal of Trump/Musk is to destroy democracy. They are white supremacists and eugenicists. They do support dictators abroad. They are a direct threat our freedom and safety. Everything is on the line. 

3.  When an opportunity comes to act in solidarity with someone in your community--Take it. We did this in Houston not long ago when many people e-mailed Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare calling for charges to be dropped against activist Sarah Terrell after her wrongful arrest by the unelected HISD Board. In part thanks to these e-mails, charges were dropped. Let's have the backs of people here at home who stand up for us. Even if they are strangers or from a community you are not part of. 

4.  When an opportunity comes to act in solidarity with others across the country--Take it. This is why so many took part in the February 28th blackout. It did have some financial impact. Even more important than that, we saw we can work together across racial, class and geographical barriers. 

All our actions are a test run for the weeks and months ahead. 

5. Ask more of Democratic Party elected officials. They are our elected employees. Contact both local and national elected officials. Politicians from across the county send us fundraising e-mails. So we can contact them as well no matter where they are.

Here are some things you can ask/demand:

* Aggressively push back against attacks on our freedom.
* Work year-round to improve turnout in safe gerrymandered Democratic districts. Hold your fellow elected officials who don't  do this accountable. 
* Address the fact that even when we win elections, Republicans want a Viktor Orban-authoritarian state. What is a way forward other than lifetime of conflict?
* Given that we may be in for a lifetime of conflict, have our backs for strategies such as economic boycotts, general strikes and large-scale protest or whatever is a path forward. 

6. Support independent media or media you feel works to tell the truth. The Associated Press is a good general news service that has not allowed Trump to bully them to use the term "Gulf of America." It merits support. Here in Houston, the Egberto Willies' Politics Done Right program is fully independent and also merits support.

7. Municipal and local politics matter. Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure to implement Trump/Musk policies.  Follow & become involved in local politics. 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 available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council.

The Houston Landing recently wrote a good article about interacting with Houston City Council. It's a useful start to learning about Council 

8. I'm not aware of any centralized place for information about protest in Houston. There is a protest at Senator John Cornyn's office each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. The 50501 movement has been organizing well-attended protests in Houston, across the state and nationally. We'll see how the movement grows & proceeds. Keep an active eye out for actions you can take part in. There is also a weekly protest from noon to one at the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer at the every busy corner of Westheimer & Eldridge. 

​Protest is essential. People must see others like themselves willing to stand up no matter the aggression of the right. Voting is critical but it is not enough. We saw this recently in South Korea where protest was vital in fighting off martial law. 

The First Amendment is your permit to protest. The next protest will take place when organize it. 

9.  Think about what self-defense looks like for you and the people in your life. You have a right to be as safe as you can be. 

10. Accept that this is a mental health crisis for millions of people. This includes you. Take time for yourself and the people in your life. 

11. If a Trump supporter wants to change his or her mind--Welcome them even if it is difficult. We need all the numbers we can get. 

12. Please support the Houston Democracy Project. The Houston Democracy Project is an independent source of action and information. This is just what is required as traditional institutions struggle to respond to current realities. Please read the Houston Democracy Project Blog often. 

13. Do your best. Hold on to your people. Admit to yourself and others you trust how painful this is. Enjoy life because life is good. Find the courage you can muster. Welcome anyone who wants to join us even if they did not grasp it already. Keep fighting.

14. Every act of opposition matters.

​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.

​Yesterday I was a speaker at the big 50501 protest in Houston. This is part of my work with the Houston Democracy Project. The Houston Chronicle reports there were over 6000 people at the protest. 

The local Houston 50501 organizers did a really good job. They were the folks who really put it all together. I had no hand in organizing the event. 

Above is a picture I took right before I spoke and below is a picture of me speaking. Above and below is the link to contribute to the Houston Democracy Project. I'm working hard, thinking things through & showing up.

Here is what I said:

*With big law firms and elite colleges giving in and elected Democrats needing to be pressed to act, our freedom is up to us.

*There are local actions you can take part in. There is a protest each Friday noon to one at the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer & a protest each Tuesday from 11:30-1 at John Cornyn’s office at 5300 Memorial Drive.

*These actions are organized by people just like you. The First Amendment is your permit. It is essential people see others like themselves willing to stand openly against the aggression of the right. The next protest will be when you organize it.

*Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure. Migrants won’t round-up themselves. Mayor Whitmire and Houston City Council must be accountable. Mayor Whitmire is more comfortable with Greg Abbott & Dan Patrick than with freedom-loving Houstonians. The Mayor has a skewed concept of public safety in the most diverse city in America, that somehow does not include addressing a far-right takeover of the nation.

*Members of Houston City Council should be asked if they support all this. The six Council Republicans—Davis, Peck, Huffman, Flickinger, Ramirez & Carter—-should say if they favor crippling cuts to NOAA and attacks on our rights. Each of us can ask them these-type questions.

*The ten Council Democrats-Plummer, Alcorn, Martinez, Thomas, Castex-Tatum, Kamin, Jackson, Evans-Shabazz, Castillo & Pollard-must have our backs and join the fight. Abbie Kamin was there and spoke today. She was the only Councilmember there.

*You can speak at Council most Tuesdays at Public Comment Session beginning at 2 PM. You can speak about any matter at all. The more in advance you sign up, the higher up on the speaker’s list you’ll be. Houston City Council holds its agenda business session on Wednesdays at 9 AM.

* This is all headed to the streets. We will meet the challenge together.

Here is some more information on contacting and interacting with Houston City Council--

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 available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council.

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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 at the 50501 Protest at noon at Houston City Hall tomorrow. There are many such protests in Texas and across the nation. There are others in the Houston-area.

These people running the country want a return to a pre-1865 America. There is no bottom line. We are going to have to take part in relentless opposition that will take many forms. It's day-by-day.

​Do your best. Hold on to your people. Admit to yourself and others you trust how painful this is. Enjoy life because life is good. Find the courage you can muster. Welcome anyone who wants to join us even if they did not grasp it already. Keep fighting.

Hope to see you tomorrow at City Hall or see the account of your local protest on your right-wing social media platform of choice. 

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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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​Often when people discuss if they want to take part in a protest or not, they consider if they would feel safe or not being involved. This makes sense. I do the same. 

Above is a picture I took at a 2017 Houston protest. 

It's also the case that you cannot guarantee full safety while fighting a far right takeover of the nation. Trump supporters have good reason to feel they will not be punished for violent acts. Trump/Musk supporters include many violent racist people. People like that do lousy things. 

I take part in a weekly protest at the office of Senator John Cornyn. (Each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr.) Things we've had thrown at us are a softball, eggs, lit cigars, cigarettes, batteries and potatoes. A man came over to our corner once with a gun visible in a holster. A motorist once swerved in the direction of one of our team members as he crossed the street. By my count, the Cornyn Protest has been "charcoal rolled" 16 times. That's when a big truck is rigged up to blow thick black smoke with the press of a button. 

​Because you can't yield to these people, the Cornyn Protest obtained city charges against a man who threw eggs at us and got him convicted in municipal court of a Class C misdemeanor. 

Protest sometimes involves police and you can't predict what police will do. Trump is clear that he wants to allow police to do anything they want. Many police unions support Trump even though he pardoned the January 6th cop-beaters. 

Here in Houston, Mayor Whitmire recently sent 11 HPD units to a peaceful protest about bike lanes. In 2020, then-District Attorney Kim Ogg dismissed charges against 654 people arrested at George Floyd protests while retaining charges against only 52 people. There were clearly many unnecessary arrests.

Here is the Houston Democracy Project letter to each Democratic member of Houston City Council calling on them to attend the upcoming April 5th anti Trump/Musk protest at Houston City Hall and to be aware of how the event is policed. Please read the letter and contact Council. There is information on how to contact Council in the post. 

There is no easy way forward at the moment. There is going to be some risk. I don't know if it is more or less dangerous than a Houston Freeway or cycling in Houston after John Whitmire rips out the bike lanes. It's not  risk free. In my view it is worth the risk. 

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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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Below is a letter I've sent to each Democratic Party member of Houston City Council. It's essential that our elected Democrats have our backs for the challenging days ahead. 

There are ten Houston City Council Democrats. They are Sallie Alcorn, Martha Castex-Tatum, Mario Castillo, Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Abbie Kamin, Tarsha Jackson, Joaquin Martinez, Edward Pollard, Letitia Plummer, and Tiffany Thomas. Here is how to contact Houston City Council. There is information on how to follow and interact with Council at the bottom of this post. 

Please consider contacting Houston City Council about their need to take part in the April 5 protest.

Tell them our rights must be protected and that each of us must be protected. Tell them the Houston Democracy Project sent you. Our rights are on the line. Our elected officials must fully join the fight. 

Here is the letter--

Councilmember Alcorn: 

This Saturday April 5 at noon, there will be a large protest at Houston City Hall about the Trump/Musk white-supremacist attack on our economy and our democracy. 

It’s essential that pro-democracy Houstonians be allowed to freely express themselves. Last week, Mayor Whitmire sent 11 HPD vehicles to a protest of maybe 25 people regarding bike lanes. In 2020, then-District Attorney Kim Ogg dismissed charges against 602 people arrested at Houston protests about the murder of George Floyd while keeping charges against just 51 people. 

In recent weeks at Houston City Council public comment session, FIEL Houston leader Cesar Espinosa complained about heavy policing at a peaceful immigration rights demonstration. This concern came despite the fact that Mr. Espinosa has a positive relationship with Council. He is someone many of you have worked with on immigration issues. 

With big law firms and elite universities rushing to capitulate to Trump and Democratic Party elected officials having to be pressed by the rank and file to actively oppose the far-right takeover of the United States, it’s clear that the work of having any hope of freedom is up to everyday citizens of Houston. Through inaction and silence, our elected officials have placed themselves in a support role in this urgent task. 

Members of Houston City Council have an obligation to do all they can to protect Houstonians from State of Texas government and the federal government. It might not be much. But anything is better than complicity, acquiescence and silence. 

Councilmembers should attend Saturday’s protest as part of the crowd. Councilmembers should monitor how the event is policed and be ready to address any undue restriction or constraint on First Amendment freedoms. 

April 5th is a warm-up for larger mass protest. The institutions and processes we’ve long been asked to trust and defer to have not met the challenge of Trumpism. The public is rising to the fight ahead. Houston City Council must join the fight and use its power to protect freedom-loving Houstonians. 

Thank you.

Neil Aquino
Houston Democracy Project 
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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 available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council.

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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.