​The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest had 24 folks today, 7/28, in 100 degree heat. It was Week 494. Our 500th week will be Tuesday, September 8th. We are each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr.

It is essential that people see others standing openly and confidently for democracy no matter the aggression of the right.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting will not be enough. The work ahead is ours

​Yesterday evening, 7/22, I attended the joint Super Neighborhood 64 & 88 meeting at the Magnolia Multiservice Center.  64 & 88 serve Greater Eastwood, Lawndale and Eastwood. Lindsey Williams is president of both 64 & 88. 

Ms. Williams and her team of civically-minded Houstonians ran a solid meeting. Ms. Williams said the meeting was for the people of the local community and for anybody who wanted to learn. There were nearly 100 people at the meeting. District I Councilmember Joaquin Martinez was not at the meeting. 

The topic last night was the ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and protecting your rights should you encounter immigration officers. 

Democratic Houston At-Large Councilmember Alejandra Salinas was a speaker at the meeting. You see her at the microphone below with Ms. Williams at the podium. 

Here are some things she said:

* That at the time of the shooting, Mayor Whitmire and Chief Diaz said the city did not have any jurisdiction to investigate. (This important to keep repeating because Mayor Whitmire and his allies want you to believe that he was on the case from the start. He wasn't.)

* HPD has been increasing the number of times it calls ICE. Here is a list of each time HPD called ICE between April 1 and June 30. The list is on Councilmember Salinas' official website. She said she has a meting with Chief Diaz next week. 

* Asked about calls for "decorum" at Houston City Council from Mayor Whitmire and some councilmembers, Ms. Salinas said all the right things about listening to Houstonians.

* People must continue to apply public pressure.

Another speaker was District Attorney Sean Teare. You see him above.

Here are some things he said:

* Even if the people who were in the van that was attacked by ICE are deported, the Harris County DA's office would go wherever they are and get a statement. 

* The DA's office may well have the capacity to determine the names of the ICE agents involved in the killing. 

* The DA's office may well have all the videos of the shooting including some the public has not seen.

* The ability to prosecute some crimes in Harris County is being impeded by people's fear of ICE. 

* People must continue to apply public pressure.

There was also a presentation on what rights you have if confronted by ICE. Here is information on that topic from the National Immigrant Justice Center.

Thanks to Super Neighborhoods 64 and 88 for the excellent meeting. It was a great example of rank and file leadership. Thanks to people across the Houston-region who have demanded accountability and who are taking the lead. Both Mr. Teare and Ms. Salinas reported that your efforts are important.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting will not be enough. The work ahead is ours.

The Hitchcock, Galveston County City Council voted 3-2 to reject formal Hitchcock Police cooperation with ICE. 

Picture above is Hitchcock City Council from the Channel 13 report on the vote. I looked for a replay o the session so I could watch the debate in full. But the session is not on the city YouTube page or the city website. 

Hitchcock has a 2020 Census population of 7,301. The city is essentially 50% white, 25% Black and 25% Hispanic. 

From The Galveston County Daily News:
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The vote followed a lengthy discussion over whether the financial and investigative benefits of joining ICE’s 287(g) program outweighed concerns the agreement could undermine public confidence in the Hitchcock Police Department and leave immigrant residents fearful of routine encounters with officers....The proposal would have authorized Police Chief Wilmon Smith to enter into a memorandum of agreement with ICE under the program’s Task Force Model. City documents said selected officers would have received federal training and certification before performing immigration-related functions under ICE supervision....Officers would not have been permitted to stop drivers based on suspected immigration status, visit homes or businesses to check residents’ status or establish immigration checkpoints, he said....“If we suspect somebody being here illegally and we see them driving down the street, we’re not going to go stop that vehicle,” Evans said. “That would be a clear violation of the law, and it will not be approved. It will not be tolerated.” .... Council member Shawn Kadlecek said he trusted the department’s current leadership but worried about what could happen under a future chief or council. " What happens when the chief retires?” Kadlecek said. “What guarantees are in place that this is going to be run the correct way with new personnel in place?” The police department had built trust and respect within Hitchcock, particularly among minority residents, and questioned whether joining the program was worth risking that relationship, Kadlecek said. “I don’t feel that what we can gain from it is worth losing the faith of half of your community,” he said. ....Participation also could have provided the city access to federal immigration databases and reimbursement for eligible officer time, equipment, technology and vehicle expenses, Evans said....City documents, however, state Hitchcock would remain responsible for participating officers’ salaries and benefits, local transportation, administrative supplies and equipment used during regular operations. ICE would provide training personnel, training materials, travel expenses associated with training and federal technology infrastructure.

​Here is an overview from San Antonio Channel 29 of which Texas counties and cities have some type of 287(g) agreement as well as an overview of the program. There are different types of involvement which are discussed in the Channel 29 report. Neither Harris County or Houston are in a 287(g) agreement. Texas state law mandates that Texas counties will have to do so before the end of 2026.

​It's great to see Hitchcock do the right thing for its people and not just reflexively do what the police department wanted. I often discuss protests in small cities across the Houston-region. There are allies and people doing the right thing every place you go. 

​At the big anti-ICE protest on Sunday, 7/19, it was essentially arranged that the protestors would occupy the Dunlavy Bridge in Montrose for a brief stretch.

​At the same time, as you see in the picture above, the city and HPD made clear that if the protesters went past the bridge, they would be besieged by cops on horses. (There were many more horses than this at the protest.)

There are six members of an authoritarian, white supremacist political party on Houston City Council. Are they being threatened with a stampede?

If you stole my car, I still would not trample you with a herd of horses.

It is stuff like this why I keep saying we will be on our own when it really hits the fan. Folks showing up in 95 degree heat to oppose the federal government killing Houstonians are regarded as a possible rampaging horde.

​Many-most I wager- protestors in Houston are rank & file Democrats who want to live freely. You see how we are regarded in our Democratic-voting city with a majority-Democratic council.

Last week, some Houston City Councilmembers admonished people for "decorum" at Council. Mayor Whitmire said he'd be demanding more "decorum" at Houston City Hall.

What manner of decorum is it to threaten peaceful and civically-involved Houstonians with being trampled?

​​I'm back in town after a great week in Baltimore, Maryland. 

There is a lot to do in Baltimore. 

I'm thankful to be able to take a good trip. 

​Regarding Mayor Whitmire’s ICE press conference today, 7/10:

1. Our rank & file leadership as Houstonians compelled Whitmire to speak much differently than he did at council on Wednesday. Thanks to everyone who has attended a protest or spoken up in someway. 

The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The work ahead is ours. 

2. We should recall who spoke strongly right off at Council on Wednesday. It was Salinas, Panzerella & Pollard. The four who voted against repeal of the ICE ordinance in April were Pollard, Thomas, Salinas & then-member Kamin. 

Repeal of the ICE ordinance expanded HPD cooperation with ICE because it lifted the 30 minute time HPD could hold someone for an administrative immigration warrant. Now there is no time limit. Voting for the repeal were Castillo, Peck, Jackson, Flickinger, Davis, Alcorn, Martinez, Castex-Tatum, Huffman, Evans-Shabazz, Carter, Ramirez & Whitmire. 

3. Whitmire talked about an independent investigation many times in the press conference. He also said many times that it was a federal matter. We’ll have to keep on him & council. Mayor Whitmire is shifty. Just weeks ago regarding ICE, Mayor Whitmire said Governor Abbott's opinion was the only one that mattered. 

4. Whitmire was critical of ICE. I don’t believe he likes ICE or Trump. In some ways it’s like being Mayor Turner when covid or Hurricane Harvey arrives. Though Mayor Whitmire has opposed his scourges with less vigor. 

5. All the people Whitmire had with him at the press conference were full Whitmire-loyalists. No Republicans though. Mayor Whitmire spoke a lot today about “unity.” I’m looking for some Republican “unity” on opposing ICE. 

6. You can watch the press conference yourself. The more each of us know, the more powerful we all are. It starts near the 12 minute mark of the video & lasts just over 40 minutes.

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​Here is a list of upcoming one-time events about the ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, & of standing weekly protests.

If you'd like to start an event yourself, you can do so. Every act of resistance matters. 5 people on a sidewalk with signs matter. All across the Houston-region, we are forming our own networks of rapid response and self-protection. It's essential that people see others like themselves standing openly and confidently for freedom.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting will not be enough. The work ahead is ours.

All these events listed build our collective rank & file power.

Here are the events & I've included a few graphics as well--

Regarding the ICE killing:

Community Vigil for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
SEIU Texas Office
3219 Harrisburg Blvd.
Saturday, 7/11, 10 AM

Call for Independent Investigation of Shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
We Rise Up & Cypress-Tomball Democrats
1400 N. Loop 336 W. (Over I-45)
Saturday, 7/11, 9 AM-11 AM, Conroe

Let's Ride For La Raza-Justice For Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
Family Thrift Center
610 S. Wayside
Saturday, 7/11, Meet at 4 & drive at 5.

Justice For Lorenzo
Houston City Hall
Saturday, 7/11, 6 PM

Community Vigil
Houston City Hall
Sunday, 7/12, 7 PM-9 PM

Pack City Hall
Houston City Council Public Session
Tuesday, 7/14, 2 PM

Weekly Protests & Houston City Council Public Session:
John Cornyn Houston Office Protest
5300 Memorial Dr.
Each Tuesday, 11:30-1

Houston City Council Public Comment Session
Each Tuesday, 2 PM & then 5 PM on last Tuesday of month
Weekly Protest Against U.S. Rep. Luttrell & State Rep. Bell
18230 FM 1488 (Landmark Building)
Each Thursday, 8 AM-9 AM, Magnolia

Defending Democracy Protest
Indivisible Kingwood
2499 Green Oak Dr,. (Kingwood Dr. & Green Oak)
Each Thursday, 10-11, Kingwood

Social Security Office Protest
13302 Westheimer (Westheimer & Eldridge)
Each Friday, noon-1

Weekly Pro-Democracy Protest
We The People Organize
59 & Dunlavy Bridge
Each Friday, 3:30-5, Montrose

Weekly Pro-Democracy Protest
Outside Helen Hall Library
W. Walker & Highway 3
Each Saturday, 11-12:30, League City

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​Above is a picture from the protest/vigil yesterday at the Canal Street location of the ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Below is another picture from last night and then a picture from this morning, 7/9. 

The Houston Chronicle said there were 1500 people present last night. Here is a report on the event from NPR KUHF.

There is a lot going on about the shooting. There are calls for an independent investigation of the shooting because the federal government aways lies. I posted yesterday on first reactions-or absence of a reaction-from Houston City Councilmembers. 

What I want to emphasize though with this post is that we are going to need a mass movement equal to being the 4th largest city in the United States. 1500 is great on short notice. Parking was not easy. Thank you to everyone who joined. 

But with ICE on the streets and a lawless, authoritarian, white supremacist government in charge in both Austin and Washington, we ultimately need to be able to show up for ourselves. We need to get to 15,000 and 50,000 and 150,000.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting will not be enough. The work ahead is ours.
​

​Below are Houston City Council reactions at Council today, 7/8, to ICE killing of Mr. Araujo & above and below is word of two vigils this evening, 7/8, regarding the killing. These events are on after the other at the same location. 

(As part of my work on the Houston Democracy Project, I watch every public comment and agenda session of Houston City Council.)

Ramirez--HPD can't meaningfully investigate because of federal supremacy. "Hopefully the federal government investigation will be transparent...."

Thomas--General condolences. No call for independent investigation. "....looking for information on how this case proceeds..."

Castex-Tatum-No comments. No call for independent investigation.

Peck-No comments. No call for independent investigation.

Matinez-"Prayers and condolences." Said HPD was not present. Mentioned the two vigils this evening & said he would be there. Said federal government must be accountable. No call for independent investigation. (Update-Martinez has since called for the city to work with other agencies for an investigation.) 

Whitmire-Praised Martinez comments. Said HPD had no involvement. Offered condolences. Said Ramirez correct that city can't investigate. Said some were "politicizing" shooting. Did not say who.

Pollard-City should be aggressive in determining what happened. "We can't just leave it all to the federal government."

Alcorn-General condolences. "I wish we didn't have to deal with it." No call for independent investigation.

Carter- General condolences. No call for independent investigation.

Evans-Shabazz-General condolences. No call for independent investigation.

​Castillo-General condolences "...every avenue for accountability and transparency is pursued."

Davis-No comments. No call for independent investigation.

Flickinger-No comments. No call for independent investigation.

Panzarella-Prepared statement critical of ICE. Called for independent investigation. Said will attend vigil this evening.

Jackson-General condolences. No call for independent investigation.

Huffman-Absent

Salinas-Was at family press conference. Called for independent investigation.

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​There are 5 protests I'm aware of for Tomorrow, 7/3 & Saturday, 7/4.

Tomorrow is the weekly protest outside the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer. This is from noon to one at the busy intersection of Westheimer & Eldridge.

Also, there is the weekly protest on the Dunlavy Bridge over 59 from 3:30-5.

​The three Saturday protests are detailed in the graphics above and below. One in League City one for the last World Cup game in Houston & on in Conroe.
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The next action is when you organize it. The 1st amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting won’t be enough. The work ahead is ours.