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There are four actions this weekend in the Houston area connected to the 50501 Rage Against The Regime protests. 

Here is where you can find a protest near you in Texas and across the country. 

The four local actions are:

1. Houston City Hall, 9 AM, Saturday, 8/2.
2. ICE Detention Center, 5 PM, 15850 Export Plaza Dr., Saturday, 8/2.
3. Kingwood at the intersection of West Lake Houston & Kingwood Drive, 9 AM-11 AM, Saturday, 8/2. 
4. Conroe City Hall, 301 N. Thompson, 9 AM-12 PM, Saturday, 8/2. 

Above you see the graphic for Conroe and below you see Kingwood. We have to support people in conservative areas who are willing to organize and show up. So often people are afraid to be seen or unaware that there are many people nearby who feel the same as they do. 

There are volunteer-led events. The First Amendment is our permit. The next action is when you organize it.

I don't know how many people will attend these rallies. I do know that for the most part we are going to have to organize ourselves. Go and see who is there and get to know them. Trump and his crew are not joking about taking over cities or suspending rights. They are boosting up the ICE secret police and building the camps.

​We are going to need each other in the very difficult days ahead. We see all the news agencies, famous universities and law firms caving to Trump. Each of us are the last line of defense. We can't and won't cave. 

​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.​​

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. ​​​​​​

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Above you see word of an event later this week promoting Harris County Democratic Party judges. Many Harris County Democratic judges are on the 2026 ballot. It is essential that Republicans do not make gains in Harris County courts. 

The Republican Party is a far-right extremist operation, Elon Musk is funding judicial candidates in Texas and we do not need Republicans on the Harris County bench as we move towards authoritarianism. I don't want Republican judges helping decide the fate of anyone arrested defending their freedom. 

Harris County Democratic judges have been stepping up efforts to explain what they do in the face of relentless lying attacks from the right. I don't understand losing control of the narrative over law and order when Republicans all back a President of who is a felon, an insurrectionist and a sexual predator. Republicans are super-charging the ICE secret police who could disappear any of us tomorrow with no due process. How is any Republican a credible voice on following the law? 

Back in May, I went to a meeting of the Texas Democratic Women-Harris Metro where there was a panel of judges. I felt the judges were a bit technical in how they explained things. I felt they should have offered a handout with some quick points for Democrats to share with people they know. But I certainly appreciated that they were making the effort. A helpful thing they said was that the focus on the criminal courts from the right, was in fact about gaining control of the civil courts. They want control of all the financial judgments and whatever it is ( I have no idea really.) that goes on in the civil courts. 

Here is the website of the Harris County Courts if you want to look around. Here is the website of the District Courts of Harris County. Why do they have different websites? I don't know. But I'm going to find out because I want to be able to speak for the judges even though I don't always find it overly interesting. I do find my freedom interesting and I don't want Republican judges. 

(One thing that would be great would be for local attorneys to take their oath to the Constitution more seriously. How on Earth do they think the Constitution itself will survive the current onslaught?  Here is the Texas Bar oath all lawyers take. It very much includes upholding the Constitution. Where are the voices and resources of the professions as health, the law and academia are under relentless assault?) 

​(Also remember as you take your own time to learn about and advocate for Harris County Democratic judges, that County Commissioner Rodney Ellis has over $7 million in his campaign bank account. Commissioner Ellis has done good work on progressive criminal justice reform and getting resources to the Harris County Public Defenders office. At the same time, his reluctance to spend some of the money he has obtained in his lucrative political career to defend polices he has advanced, is an everyday slap in the face to the rank & file that give many hours of free labor--including blockwalking in the heat with stray dogs around-- to Harris County Democrats.) 

​I've been watching a number of Harris County Democratic judges hit the campaign trail early to start making the case for 2026. They are doing this on top of being in the courtroom. Some of them out early now, may get a primary challenge for March, 2026. They have little control over having to contest a primary. These judges are making it clear they will speak to just about any type of group to explain what they do. (If you e-mail me at [email protected], I'll get you in contact with a judge to potentially speak to your group.)

I'm always hesitant to shift any additional burdens to the rank & file. We have enough problems. But I do think we have to school ourselves to be effective advocates for the Harris County Democratic judicial slate in 2026. There is just too much at stake to not apply the needed 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.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​

Here are some observations I've had lately: 

* There are some people in the world who might be fine people, but who just from circumstance or maybe misunderstanding corrode my well-being. Maybe it's even my fault. It doesn't matter.

I've been thinking about this lately & my need to be distant from them even if they are in some of the same spaces. We are in a big mental health crisis. Do what you need to do to keep yourself going.

* Every Democratic elected official who has won election to anything over the past 2 or 4 or 6 years, knew they were signing up to confront an authoritarian, white supremacist opponent. They signed up for everything that might involve & wherever it may lead.

* Understanding that voting is important ( Since someone always feels compelled to point it out.), I believe if you think about what will really matter as we confront an authoritarian, white supremacist opponent, it will be our rank and file actions more so than what elected officials and candidates on our side of the aisle do.

The political class (And professional classes) will act within a narrow range of responses until they are compelled to do more out of self-interest or until we demand more. (Some will surprise us and meet the moment.)
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There are very difficult days ahead and I don't know what will be required of us. But there is little doubt a violent secret-police force is being recruited, camps are being built and that the right is lawless. It's clear that voting rights are being trashed. Some leading figures on the right are straight up eugenicists and have billions of dollars. JD Vance is if anything worse than Trump.

Each of us are the main act.​

* It's fine to go to the rallies where only elected officials are speaking, but look around at the folks at the rally with you. It's the person next to you who will be a far better bet to show up in a meaningful way in the very difficult days ahead.

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​A few days ago, I watched a Zoom meeting (Picture below.) that featured Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Texas State Rep. Jon Rosenthal. State Rep. Rosenthal is Vice Chair of the Texas House Redistricting Committee. The intent of the call was to rally the public to fight the Trump-ordered redistricting. 

Commissioner Ellis said a purpose of the redistricting is to "..dismantle everything. All of the rights." 

Commissioner Ellis said: "Anyway I can be helpful, I will do it." Commissioner Ellis has $ 7.3 million in his campaign treasury. There are many ways he could be helpful. He's had the option for many years to spend some of that money more aggressively to increase local turnout and boost good candidates. 

Commissioner Ellis talked about "Good trouble." Good trouble as originally practiced by future Congressman John Lewis involved a lot of civil disobedience.

Rep. Rosenthal has an established record of doing things like showing up when not required, to help in important CY-FAIR ISD board elections. In the Zoom call he said: "I'm down for this fight at every level there is." I believe him. 

Above you see a recent posting from the Texas House Democratic Caucus saying that they will use "whatever means necessary." All right. There is a standard each of us can hold Texas House Democrats to in the days ahead.

Today, some Texas House Democrats met with some Texas House Democrats met with Governor Newsom of California and separately Governor Pritzker of Illinois to map out whatever it is they all hope to do to fight back. 

Commissioner Ellis has laid out the stakes of this fight. It's not complicated. I'm not going give any strategy suggestions. I don't have any. What I want is something much more than a performative fight from our local elected Democrats against this redistricting. They are saying some of the right things. They must deliver a fight that shows they will be with for the even more difficult challenges 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 Egberto's YouTube channel.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​

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I spoke at Houston City Council public comment time Tuesday, 7/22, at 2 PM. (There is information below about interacting with Council.) 

(Above is me at Council asking what moral obligations we assume as Houstonians for cooperating with ICE. The bored gentlemen in the suits behind me, are businessmen from Africa who seemed to have a pitch about getting some deal connected the World Cup soccer in Houston in 2026.) 

Here is what I said: 

​Thank you to the people of Houston for providing this forum. 

There was debate here last week over the so-called Civility Ordinance. Much conversation had to do with what moral obligation, hopefully helpful services and also legal punishments, that would be extended to people no longer allowed to sleep Downtown and East Downtown. 

Councilmember Kamin said some men did not want to be sent to an all-male shelter because it might be dangerous. Councilmember Ramirez asked questions about the citations and municipal court process the unhoused might face. Mayor Pro Tem Castex-Tatum said District K residents were open to the ordinance, but had concerns about citations being issued to the unhoused.

There were questions about what happens when the City of Houston compels someone, in some cases by police and legal coercion, into systems they might not want to be part of. 

Mayor Whitmire summed up what he says is the spirit and outcome of the ordinance—“No one is going to be taken off the streets unless there is a bed and a plan to get them connected with resources like mental health services.

What about people HPD turns over to ICE? Everyone in this room knows the people taken by ICE are our neighbors and a vital part of Houston’s workforce. Report after report shows the great majority are not criminals. 

What obligations do we assume as Houstonians, when we know people HPD hands over to ICE may end up in the alligator-terror facility in Florida, the torture prison in El Salvador or in South Sudan? 

From the Guardian news site:

“Migrants at a Miami immigration jail were shackled with their hands tied behind their backs and made to kneel to eat food from styrofoam plates “like dogs”…female detainees were made to use toilets in full view of men being held there, and were denied access to gender-appropriate care, showers, or adequate food.”

​If you’re going insist on working with ICE—which you should not be doing—then the city, each of you and all of us, are responsible for the outcomes. You talked at great length last week about responsibility for outcomes. 

You now have the information from repeated press reports and first person accounts: that due process is being ignored, many facilities are dirty and nasty & sometimes U.S. citizens are taken.

The current City of Houston policy is “We just take them to the box car, It’s not our responsibility where the box car takes them. 

In his Civility Ordinance presentation last week, Chief Satterwhite said that “what you allow, you encourage.” You accepted his premise by a 14-2 vote. 

You’re allowing HPD to turn people over to ICE. You’re encouraging what ICE does afterward by demanding no accountability. 

I’m asking that through a Proposition A ordinance, you allocate resources to track what happens to people HPD turns over to ICE. Our city should create a record in case decency ever returns, and there is a chance at accountability. We should create a moral record so a future Mayor and Council can act morally. 

I urge each of you to understand the gravity of the moment. Please meet the challenge with something other than business as usual. The parallels to 1850’s America and to the 1930’s are clear. Act now while some chance still exists to say you were on the right side and while some hope exists of changing our current course. 

​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 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. 

I believe Houstonians should contact Mayor Whitmire and Council and talk to them about how HPD is cooperating with ICE.

Things you could say or ask:

1. Stop working with ICE. 
2. If you are going to work with ICE, follow up on where the people the city helps send away end up. Do they get due process? Are some U.S. citizens? Pass a Proposition A ordinance so there are resources to follow up. 
3. Why aren't you speaking up or engaging in any oversight of HPD working with ICE? 

Each of us are the main act in the challenging days ahead. Step up and be heard. Encourage others to do the same. 

Below 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 Egberto's YouTube channel.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​​

Today at the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest, a man living nearby yelled “I’ll shoot you assholes” at our Protest team. He thought we were too loud.

We told the officers watching us what happened. We always tell the officer because we merit protection. They went up and talked to the man who denied to them what he said. An officer said she called the DA’s office and they declined to press charges. The officers were helpful. We have no illusions about anything. Today the officers were helpful.

We went on with our protest today. We keep saying that people must see others like themselves willing to stand up to the right no matter the aggression, that the challenge ahead will require more than voting & that confronting an authoritarian and white supremacist opponent will not be as safe as we'd like.

Essential to getting out this nightmare will be a broad-based movement of people willing to show up. Each of us are the main act. The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will continue to show up. Please join us each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. Next week will be Week 442.

Every single week we've been out, the favorable reactions have far exceeded the negative reactions. All 441 weeks so far.

Above is Mauri Lucas from our team talking to HPD today. Below is our full team today.

Things we’ve had thrown at us over the years are eggs, lit cigarettes, lit cigars, potatoes, a softball and batteries. We’ve been smoke-rolled by big nasty trucks 22 times. A man once came over with a gun in a holster. We got an egg-thrower convicted in city court of a class c misdemeanor.

We are going to stay the course. Please join us. Please be ready for the challenge 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 Egberto's YouTube channel.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​​

Below was written by freedom-fighter Sarah Roberts who is a grassroots activist who does the work in the Houston-region. It is about opposing the redistricting of Fort Bend County Commissioner's Court. This redistricting is happening because scoundrel and party-switcher KP George is now the third vote to allow it. If you live in Fort Bend County, please read this and join the fight. Thanks to Sarah for the strong rank & file leadership. It is always good be able to highlight strong grassroots work.

This is a pivotal moment. I know it’s overwhelming so I am breaking it down.

First, some updates on local redistricting! For Fort Bend County, we have a few things we need to be paying attention to, getting the word out and speaking out on. First up is commissioner’s court, then statewide. If you do not live in Fort Bend County, please check your commissioner’s courts agendas and share details in a post.

We need to all band together to use our voice. Share with anyone you know, including other volunteer groups, clubs, orgs, churches, your spiritual leaders, friends and family. Text, call, post, talk to people.

I care about humanity, kindness and doing the right thing, giving a voice to the marginalized, protecting rights. This is just another push from and the fascist Christian nationalist agenda. I’m not going down without a fight!

- Next Fort Bend commissioners court meeting is Tuesday 7/22. On the agenda is committee appointments and a couple other redistricting items.

- McCoy and Prestage have appropriately decided NOT to appoint members to the illegal and unrepresentative committee.

- The other 3 are appointing Upendra Sahu, Mike Gibson, Wendy Duncan, Ryan Yokubaitis, Jacob Lee, Robert Beham

- McCoy also has an agenda item to rescind the illegal appointment of redistricting counsel citing an AG advisory opinion from AG Paxton

​- Meyers also has an agenda item to move Sugar Creek back into 3. (You can’t have it both ways!!!!)
We’ll need as many people as possible to sign up and speak this Tuesday at commissioner’s court.
If you’re not sure how to fill out the request to speak, let us know. We can assist you in your goal.

​https://publicspeakers.fortbendcountytx.gov/
https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/.../commissioners-court...


 ​​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.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​​

​Today I visited four of the five of the rallies put on by the Harris County Democratic Party opposing the Trump-ordered redistricting of Texas U.S. House seats.

I wanted to see what was going on and how many people were at the rallies. Also, Houston is a big and interesting place. It’s fun to go around and see things. The Houston Democracy Project is always on the go.

Top left is at Moody Park in Northside.
Top right is 43rd St. in Oak Forest.
Bottom left is Almeda Rd. In Third Ward
Bottom right is Bellaire Blvd. In Sharpstown.

The pictures tell some of the story. They understate the crowds. Especially the last picture. They had a good turnout in Sharpstown.

I talked to good people at all four spots.  There are a lot of good people in Houston/Harris County. We need to find one another and look after each other. 

The Texas House Legislative Caucus posted on social media recently they would use “whatever means necessary" to oppose the redistricting. We must hold them to the standard they themselves have set.

Today in Houston we were asked to attend one of five rallies. On Monday, 7/21, buses have been arranged to take people to Austin for the beginning of the special legislative session. There will be three redistricting hearings-including one in Houston on Saturday, 7/26-and rank and file Democrats are being asked to attend and testify.

We’ll do our part. The political establishment and electeds who now say they urgently need our help must also show up and use "whatever means necessary" like promised. We must demand it of them. Our right to fair representation and our freedom are on the line.
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At bottom line--Each of us is the main act in the difficult days ahead. Voting has not been and will not be enough. Our political officials seem to agree for the moment given how we are being pressed into service.

 ​​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.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​​

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Above you see a tweet from the Texas House Democratic Caucus about how hard they'll fight against the Trump-ordered redistricting of Texas U.S. House districts. It says "Texas House Democrats are going to fight this, and use whatever means necessary to do so."  

Okay. This is something we will be waiting to see. 

Below you see protests being held Saturday, 7/19, to oppose the redistricting. I hope to go to one of these protests. I oppose the redistricting and the dilution of Black and Brown voting power in Harris County and Texas. I look forward to being part of the active and effective opposition to this bad Trump plan. 

​There has been discussion about if Democrats should break quorum and leave the state as they did in opposition to a voter-suppression bill back in 2021. Since 2021, the legislature passed a series of punishments for anyone breaking quorum. People have been talking about how the House Democrats would pay the fines. That is not our problem as rank & file Democrats. Elected officials are not sitting around asking how to fund our activism. Freedom and representation are on the line. They can work it out. They say they'll use "whatever means necessary" in the fight ahead. 

As we are asked to give rank & file support to this important issue, we should also be making consistent asks of elected officials and candidates. If they want our help, then they should listen to us and help us. 

Here are some things we can ask: 

* Work year-round to improve turnout in safe gerrymandered Democratic districts. Hold your fellow elected officials who don't do this accountable.​
* Support and not run from Democratic Judges as they face endless right-wing lies.
* Commit to being on the right side of the police line if/when Trump suspends civil liberties.
* Demand due process for anyone picked up by ICE with the assistance of county-funded law enforcement agencies & monitor what happens to people picked up in the county for human rights violations.
* Commit to aggressively campaign for the 2026 and 2028 Harris County Democratic ticket.

There is a lot of trouble ahead. Let's have each other's backs and hold people accountable. 

​​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.​​

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. ​​​​​​​​​

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There are multiple Good Trouble Lives On events in Houston and the Houston-area tomorrow, 7/17. These are a continuation of the No Kings protests that were successful across the city and region back on June 14. There were also big protests on April 19th and on President's Day.

There was a lot of momentum and energy on June 14. The June 14 event built on what had come before. I've not understood why the follow up rallies were scheduled for a Thursday rather than on a weekend. "Good Trouble" recalls John Lewis. July 17 is the 5th anniversary of John Lewis' death. I'm certain though Congressman Lewis would be well-honored with better attended events on Saturday the 19th or Sunday the 20th. (None of this has anything to do with the local volunteer organizers putting on events across the country.)

This USA Today article gives some national overview. 

(Picture is No Kings Houston on June 14.) 

Here is a list of the events locally. Take a look and see if there is something near you, or some place you'd be willing to go and take part. 

Here is the National Good Trouble website with events across the country. 

Here is the specific event notice for the Downtown Houston event. This runs from 9 AM to 2 PM. It is at Houston City Hall. My understanding is that the march from City to Discovery Green and then back starts at noon. 

There are national groups that sort of billing themselves as the organizers of this events. But it is local rank & file volunteers that are doing the work to make these events happen. ​We need to be really aware of this.

Below is what I wrote after the June 14th protest. It still has value now. The focus must be on our efforts in the difficult days ahead. It can be at events shaped in part by national groups not always well-connected to local organizers, or it can be our own autonomous actions. 

From June 16:

Nearly all the work for the successful June 14 protests was done by volunteers. The risks of interacting with aggressive right-wingers--which did in fact happen locally--was also taken up by the rank & file. And there is always risk when protestors interact with police. There were no police incidents reported at any Houston-region protests. 

So as-for example-Senator Carol Alvarado, Commissioner Rodney Ellis & Mayor John Whitmire sit on over at least $10 million in campaign cash on hand acquired in public offices that belong to us, it was us who did the work to oppose the authoritarian outcomes that the systems they have so successfully navigated have produced.

I know the organizers for the Kingwood, Katy, Conroe and Huntsville protests this past Saturday. They are just everyday folks. I also know or am aware of a number of the organizers of the big Downtown Houston 50501 protest. They also are everyday people who stepped up to fight authoritarianism. (There were elected officials who spoke Downtown on Saturday. Here are ways electeds can fight for us.) 

Nobody was getting paid to put all this together. 

At least five million people attended No Kings protests over the weekend. These rallies across the country were organized by people no different than you and I. The next protest is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. 

The systems that brought us this nightmare will not be saving us. Each of us are the leaders in the challenging days ahead.