​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.