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​A truck with a digital display advocating school vouchers parked itself yesterday in front of the home of Democratic Texas State Representative Philip Cortez of San Antonio.   

The picture above is of the truck as Tweeted out by the Texas journalist Scott Braddock. Mr. Braddock used the word "harass" in describing what the people with the truck or the people paying for the truck were doing regarding Rep. Cortez.  

Many might agree with Mr. Braddock that protesting at the home of public officials is harassment. Fine.  
  
At the same time, it is a First Amendment protected activity. There have been, for example, many protests outside the Houston home of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. That type truck you see in the picture has been sent to Senator Cruz's house.   

I'm not saying it is a good or a bad idea. I'm not encouraging or discouraging such protests. I'm just making the point that it is legal and it is our right. 

I question Mr. Braddock terming a First Amendment protected activity as harassment. Mr. Braddock appears to view Rep. Cortez as wronged by being the subject of the protest. Mr. Braddock should be mindful of calling First Amendment freedoms into question in a state run by authoritarians. It is journalists and those most concerned with civil liberties who will end up with curtailed rights while the far-right proceeds unimpeded.      

It's likely Rep. Cortez was annoyed by the protest. You can't blame him. But it is not the role of elected officials to define how to protest. I've been to many protests in Houston. Democratic Party run cities send a lot police to peaceful protests. Political establishments are reflexively wary of autonomous political actions. The right way to peacefully protest is up to each of us. Elected officials have access to state violence and state power to arrest. We don't.   

I've written here that I'm part of a weekly protest outside the office of Senator John Cornyn. We've been out there for 347 weeks and going strong. We are on the sidewalk out in front of the building where his office is located. Below is a picture of Week 347. There have been many complaints to police about this peaceful and law-abiding group. We've seen a lot of cops. What has kept police from ending the protest or hassling us all the time is the First Amendment.    

Whatever your view of protesting at people's homes, be hesitant to disparage a right you might someday need. The First Amendment demands aggressive protection. Elected officials and Austin insiders are not a reliable judge of our freedoms. They are more consistent judges of their own self-interest.    

In an authoritarian situation, there is plenty reason to imagine that a more privileged or connected class will look for outcomes separate from those inflicted on rank & file citizens and on the most marginalized. Mr. Braddock had every opportunity to mention the First Amendment aspect of the protest at Rep. Cortez's home while still calling the action dumb and unnecessary. His focus though was on the inconvenience to the elected official. 

Don't willingly give up any rights. 18 months from now there could be a Trump Justice Department along with Ken Paxton as Attorney General of Texas. Don't cede an inch of freedom. If you don't want to protest at the home of an elected official--then don't. If you think the practice is bad--then say so. But recall that people in power or connected to power are rarely out front when most needed. Our freedom is up to each of us.        

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].   

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The Houston Democracy Project attended this evening's monthly meeting of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus.

Above you see a picture of meeting. I'm a member of the Caucus. 

I took the minute allotted to candidates to promote the Project & talked to folks at the meeting about the protection and promotion of democracy in Houston.

It was time well-spent!

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].      

The Houston Democracy Project tries to keep it local, but the removal of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has a lesson for Houston City elections in 2023.

The Republican-only debate on the House Floor was a debate of the anti-democratic far right against the anti-democratic far right. No side better than the other. Watch the debate for yourself to see.

What type of major political party allows someone like Matt Gaetz to be in a position to topple their most powerful figure?

U.S. House Democrats knew the score. They sat it out. All House Democrats voted to remove Mr. McCarthy rather than intervene to save him. Every one of them across the full ideological spectrum of the Democratic Party. They didn't seek a deal. There was nobody to seek a deal with. 

For Democrats concerned about the refusal to work across party lines to save Rep. McCarthy, please note that Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi supported McCarthy's removal.      

The Republican Caucus is solid for Trump. My Congressman, Wesley Hunt, voted in support of McCarthy. Congressman Hunt is a full Trumpist. Mr. Hunt would take our freedom no matter who is Speaker of the House. Houston-area Congressman Troy Nehls supported McCarthy today. He is now proposing Trump for Speaker.

Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi are experienced and pragmatic leaders who know threats to democracy when they see them.      

It would be good if Houston Mayoral candidate John Whitmire had the insight of U.S. House Democrats. Maybe it makes a difference when you've seen Republicans for what they are up-close in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, rather than having them fund your race for Mayor.  

Senator Whitmire has been in office for 50 years. He's dedicated his career to systems that have lost Roe, lost most of the Voting Rights Act and messed up the weather. Faced with the real and increasing threat of authoritarianism in Texas and the nation, he tells us to talk without condition to extremists and invites their police into our city. 
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There will not be a well-functioning government until the people trying to overthrow the government are out of office. Houstonians merit protection from the far-right. This protection from extremists should be Senator Whitmire's mission rather bringing them into the heart of Houston City Hall. 

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].   

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Houston District D candidate Travis McGee has strong pro-democracy language on his campaign website.  

(Above is a picture of Mr. McGee.)
 
I know from my own involvement in HISD issues, that Travis has one of the best records in the city of citizen involvement in HISD issues. He is also a champion of neighborhood and community advocacy. The Houston Democracy Project is first and foremost about the leadership and involvement of rank & file citizens as we confront rising authoritarianism and white supremacy. We must show up for ourselves.    

Here is what Travis says regarding protection of democracy: 

The State of Texas has no right to interfere in our local elections. They have already taken control of our school board, going so far as to put someone defeated in an HISD trustee election on their leadership team. Now, with multiple candidates attempting to overturn decisively determined races here in Harris County, we must be more vigilant than ever to stand up for the will of the voters over the wishes of extremists.
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I will advocate against state overreach into our elections and refuse to recognize any illegitimate takeover of our elections and our democracy.​

Four candidates have added pro-democracy language to their website after talking to the Houston Democracy Project.  They are Conchita Reyes in At-Large #1, Obes Nwabara for At-Large #2, Donnell Cooper for At-Large #3 and Ivan Sanchez in District J. Ethan Michelle Ganz for At-Large #3 also has strong pro-democracy language on their campaign website.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].      

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The Houston Democracy Project recently had a conversation at a community event with Republican At-Large #1 candidate Julian Ramirez.

Above is Mr. Ramirez with a Houstonian.  

Mr. Ramirez was courteous and continued the conversation after it was clear he and I had differing outlooks.

When I walked over to Mr. Ramirez, one of the first things said is he is endorsed by current Houston Councilmember Mike Knox.

I told Mr. Ramirez that Mr. Knox had testified before a Texas Senate committee about voters supposedly getting food and water in the voting line and how civic-minded election workers should be punished.      

I asked Mr. Ramirez if he had voted for Biden or Trump. I didn't expect him to answer and he did not. But on the other hand, wouldn't anyone take the chance to say they'd not voted for Trump?

(At-large #1 candidate, the same race as Mr. Ramirez, Conchita Reyes added democracy to her website after talking to the Houston Democracy Project.) 

Mr. Ramirez said city races are non-partisan. He might believe that and hope to serve all Houstonians.

At the same time, many Republicans do not treat Houston municipal elections as non-partisan. 

I asked Mr. Ramirez if he saw democracy as a matter of public safety. He seemed open to the concept. Democracy as a public safety is a central idea of the Houston Democracy Project.

And so on with a few other exchanges.

Mr. Ramirez said he had come close to winning a Harris County judgeship in 2022. He said he did not join the 21 election-redo lawsuits from sore-loser Harris County Republicans because the evidence was not there to make the case.        

I don't know Mr. Ramirez outside our ten minute exchange.  He might indeed be competent to help administer the city as a council member. It is good he stayed out of the phony election re-do lawsuits. But a bottom line remains that even if you are in your heart not on board with the anti-democratic Trump agenda as a Republican, you have an obligation to publicly distance yourself from it & to be working within the Party to affirm a commitment to democracy.   

It does not appear that Mr. Ramirez meets this standard.      

The Houston Democracy Project is working everyday to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston city politics & to help inspire, build and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

Please share word of the Project and please support the effort with your donation.