 Houston City Council At Large #2 candidate Obes Nwabara has added protection of democracy to his campaign website.
(Photo is of Mr. Nwabara. He showed up often to campaign for the 2022 Harris County Democratic ticket.) Here is what Mr. Nwabara says-- "We cannot ignore the obvious any longer. Our democracy here at home is under attack. Every day, our state legislature tries to take away more of our rights and that cannot continue. Not only do we have to protect the rights and democracy we still have, but we have to work to expand our democracy to ensure that all can participate. Everything we are working for in this race: reducing traffic, fixing our water infrastructure, investing in the future of our city, will all be for naught if we don’t even have the ability to govern ourselves or choose who represents us. What does that mean? It means registering more people to vote, it means reaching out to every eligible voter in Houston, and it means working to ensure that EVERYONE in Houston and the rest of our state has the ability to vote. It also means using every tool at our disposal to fight back against anyone, any group, or any entity that tries to take our hard-earned democratic rights away. You have my solemn vow to always fight for right to vote and for our democracy." The Houston Democracy Project is asking candidates for Houston municipal office in 2023 to make democracy an important issue in their campaigns. This doesn't mean candidates can't discuss other concerns. Mr. Nwabara talks about many issues in his campaign. But what Mr. Nwabara says is right. How will we make important public policy advances under authoritarianism? What can move forward if we can't govern ourselves? It feels sometimes like we've turned seeking the protection of our most basic freedoms and expecting the Democrats who run to represent us to join the fight for democracy into a difficult ask. We must use the leverage we have as rank & file advocates of democracy to press our candidates to speak up. The people of Houston and Harris County merit protection from the anti-democratic right. There is no public safety without democracy. We deserve far more than the diminished plea for routine elections not impeded by Republican hatred of multi-racial democracy. We must demand actions that expand democracy for ourselves and the people in our lives. Houstonians have lost an elected school board to wrongful State of Texas intervention in what just 60 years ago was a Jim Crow city. Harris County Republicans are in court trying to overturn 21 Democratic election wins from 2022. The leading Republican candidate for President of the United States is Donald Trump. Mr. Nwabara correctly interprets the political climate in Houston and Harris County. Hopefully more candidates for Houston public office will do the same in 2023. The Houston Democracy Project is working hard to make democracy a top focus in Houston city elections. Please share word of the Project & please support the effort.
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 There will be a protest at the Hattie Mae White building on Saturday, August 5th at 9 AM regarding the removal of libraries at 28 HISD schools.
Hattie Mae White is the central administration offices of HISD. It is located at 4400 W 18th St. The libraries being eliminated will be replaced by discipline rooms where kids will be sent as punishment. This decision to shut the libraries is being made by Greg Abbott-appointed HISD Superintendent Mike Miles & the rubber stamp Board of Managers. There is no democracy involved in decisions made by the Abbott-appointed HISD leadership. These 28 schools are in Black & Brown communities. Many Houston officials have said the closing of school libraries in these communities is reminiscent of Jim Crow Separate But Equal practices. The removal of the elected school board in what was just 60 years ago a Jim Crow city is a matter of concern for everyone in Houston, in Harris County & Texas. It is part of a broad attack on democracy. Harris County Republicans are currently in court trying to undo 21 Democratic election wins from 2022 despite the fact they lost the election fair and square. The Texas Legislature never misses a chance to constrict the political autonomy of Harris County and other urban counties. The Republican Party nationally is commanded by Donald Trump. Please consider attending the protest this Saturday morning as a measure of your concern for all HISD students and because democracy itself is under attack. The closing of the libraries is an outcome of the removal of the elected school board in Houston. It is not just an issue for the impacted communities. It is a concern for every single person in Houston and Harris County who wants to live in a free society and envisions a future for themselves and their families rooted in democracy. The Houston Democracy Project is working hard to make certain democracy is an important issue in 2023 Houston municipal elections. Please share word of the Project and please consider supporting the effort. |
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