Big HPD Presence At Pro-Democracy Protest-Houstonians Want To Be Free

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​There was a democracy rally today in Houston. People met up at the Water Wall near the Galleria and marched down Westheimer 2 1/2 miles to Lamar High School. Houston 50501 & Immigrating Youth Texas played a large role in organizing the event. There was a larger coalition of sponsoring groups including the Houston Democracy Project. 

There were hundreds of people today. I don’t know how many hundreds.

There was a very heavy police presence.

From the Houston Chronicle about the protest and march today:

“The Houston Police Department sent dozens of squad cars, ATVs and a full unit of mounted horse patrols along with vans and unmarked cars. The units were stationed near protesters gathered at the beginning and end of the march route; some officers followed the crowd the entire way.”

The police may have expected and been prepared for a larger crowd. They did nothing to obstruct the march. I saw no inappropriate police actions.

*When habeas corpus is suspended, how will protest be policed in Houston?

*Why do people who just want basic democracy merit such a forceful police presence?

*What about the six Republicans on Houston City Council who say nothing about and presumably support what Trump is doing? They are a far greater danger to Houston than the protesters today.

*How can these type police resources be rustled up at Labor Day holiday wages, but the grass at the park can’t get mowed and sidewalks all over town are cracked?

The upper left picture is a number of HPD dune buggy type deals.

Upper right is a HPD jail van in case a lot of arrests of Houstonians upset about losing rights and freedom needed to be made.

Lower left is some type of surveillance gizmo so everybody could be watched.

Lower right is some of the HPD horse units. They wanted to make certain people did not go on 610.

Democracy should be protected with the same vigilance with which 610 is protected.

​A big topic at Houston City budget debates earlier this year was police overtime. There was a story in the Chronicle recently about police overtime. I’m not certain how anyone thought police overtime could be managed as we become an authoritarian society and rights are taken away.

​Below is information about interacting with Houston City Council and contact information for Council.  All elected officials take an oath to protect the Constitution.

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception of the last Friday of each month when it is at 5:30 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. 

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. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

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