City Of Houston Masses Municipal Army For No Kings-Threat Is Criminals Running Country

​At the peaceful and successful No Kings protest this past Saturday, I counted from the Houston Police Department 83 cars/SUV’s, 16 horse officers, 8 ATV/dune buggy-looking deals, a golf cart, a giant camouflage high water rescue vehicle, a helicopter, and the officers I saw on the roof of City Hall. There were also DPS state police. Above you see a picture I took of some of the officers and some of the horses. (I spoke at the event. Here is what I said.)

I’m certain I’m missing all sorts of electronic surveillance, and I bet my count of cars/SUV’s is low with units staged and deployed blocks away. 

I’d like to see solid evidence or intelligence from HPD that there is a meaningful prospect of a conflict or big trouble at these protests. I think they imagine worst case scenarios and cover-your-ass scenarios, and then staff up at great cost to the city and to taxpayers. Police overtime is an important budgetary concern in Houston. I’m sure police overtime is just fine with the police officers. (Here is my account of the over-policed Labor Day protest in Houston.) 

Anyone familiar with the ethos and vibe of people who attend these-type protests, knows that if you wanted to assemble people in Houston very likely to use turn signals, return library books on time and vote in pretty much every election, you’d put together a political protest.

We should lean into this fact. Whoever shows up is the correct coalition. 

In terms of counter-protesters and the need to deescalate any conflict, a lot of the local militia-members and goons have maybe been hired by ICE. 

With each round of protests, we are forming our own networks with whoever else shows up. We are not tough, macho and whatever. But we are here and we'll proceed. The task ahead is ours. Seven million people made that clear at the recent No King's Protest. Our opponents are authoritarian, white supremacists and the challenge ahead will have risks. We will meet that challenge at both the ballot box and on the streets. 

The next action is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential you need is your presence. No community is on the periphery. No person is on the periphery. We are all in this fight.

As for the City of Houston, the criminals causing all the problems we are protesting are the people running the country. City resources should be applied to fighting for our rights and freedoms, instead of amassing a small municipal army every time we show up for our democracy. 

​'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.​

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