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Ways To Fight Back

5/25/2025

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I won't be able to update the blog for a few days, so I'm going to leave here my recent list of ways to approach the current distressing political situation and things you can consider doing as we keep up the fight. 

​Here is the list:

1. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish. Win elections? Build community? Protest? All these things have value. None are exclusive of the others. You can divide your efforts between these and other efforts. You have solid judgement and there is no clearly correct course. Do your best according to your skills, goals and the demands of the moment. 


2. We must fully understand the stakes so we can fight as needed. Musk does want to tank the economy. The goal of Trump/Musk is to destroy democracy. They are white supremacists and eugenicists. They do support dictators abroad. They are a direct threat our freedom and safety. Everything is on the line. 

3. Accept that this is a 
mental health crisis for millions of people. This includes you. Take time for yourself and the people in your life. 

4.  When an opportunity comes to act in solidarity with someone in your community--Take it. 
We did this in Houston not long ago when many people e-mailed Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare calling for charges to be dropped against activist Sarah Terrell after her wrongful arrest by the unelected HISD Board. In part thanks to these e-mails, charges were dropped. Let's have the backs of people here at home who stand up for us. Even if they are strangers or from a community you are not part of. 

5.  When an opportunity comes to act in solidarity with others across the country--Take it. This is why so many took part in the February 28th economic blackout. It did have some financial impact. Even more important than that, we saw we can work together across racial, class and geographical barriers. 

All our actions are a test run for the weeks and months ahead. 

6. Ask more of Democratic Party elected officials. They are our elected employees. Contact both local and national elected officials. Politicians from across the county send us fundraising e-mails. So we can contact them as well no matter where they are.

Here are some things you can ask/demand:


* Aggressively push back against attacks on our freedom.
* Work year-round to improve turnout in safe gerrymandered Democratic districts. Hold your fellow elected officials who don't  do this accountable. 
* Address the fact that even when we win elections, Republicans want a Viktor Orban-authoritarian state. What is a way forward other than lifetime of conflict?
* Given that we may be in for a lifetime of conflict, have our backs for strategies such as economic boycotts, general strikes and large-scale protest or whatever is a path forward. 

7. Support independent media or media you feel works to tell the truth. The Associated Press is a good general news service that has not allowed Trump to bully them to use the term "Gulf of America." It merits support. Here in Houston, the Egberto Willies' Politics Done Right program is fully independent and also merits support.

8. Municipal and local politics matter. Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure to implement Trump/Musk policies.  Follow & become involved in local politics. Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 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 available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council.

The Houston Landing (RIP) recently wrote a good article about interacting with Houston City Council. It's a useful start to learning about Council 

9. I'm not aware of any centralized place for information about protest in Houston. There is a protest at Senator John Cornyn's office each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr.  We'll see how the movement grows & proceeds. Keep an active eye out for actions you can take part in. There is also a weekly protest from noon to one at the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer at the very busy corner of Westheimer & Eldridge. 

I'm hopeful that the No Kings Day protests locally in the Houston-area and across the nation will be big. Look for one near you. 

​Protest is essential. People must see others like themselves willing to stand up no matter the aggression of the right. Voting is critical but it is not enough. We saw this not long ago in South Korea where 
protest was vital in fighting off martial law. 

The First Amendment is your permit to protest. The next protest will take place when organize it. 

10. Think about what self-defense looks like for you and the people in your life. You have a right to be as safe as you can be. 

11. If a Trump supporter wants to change his or her mind--Welcome them even if it is difficult. We need all the numbers we can get. 

12. Please support the Houston Democracy Project. The Houston Democracy Project is an independent source of action and information. This is just what is required as traditional institutions struggle to respond to current realities. Please read the Houston Democracy Project Blog often. 

13. Do your best. Hold on to your people. Admit to yourself and others you trust how painful this is. Enjoy life because life is good. Find the courage you can muster. Welcome anyone who wants to join us even if they did not grasp it already. Keep fighting.

14. Every act of opposition matters.

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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. ​​

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.
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Houston Democracy Project At Indivisible Kingwood-We Are The Leaders In Fight Ahead

5/23/2025

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​Yesterday I was the speaker at the bi-weekly Indivisible Kingwood meeting.

Here are pictures of some of the attendees, me outside where the meeting was & a nice cloud over Kingwood.

Here is a summary of what I said:

*It’s a real kindness for a strong group of rank & file active citizens to ask me to speak. Thank you.

* The threats to our rights and to democracy are 100% real. They are serious about suspending habeas corpus, federalizing local police, using ICE as a general goon squad and ending fair elections.

​* We must each ask ourselves what we want to accomplish—Winning elections, building community, protest. Some combination of these things? What works for you?

* Local elected Democrats such as John Whitmire, Rodney Ellis and Carol Alvarado should invest their large campaign bank funds in year-round efforts boost turnout across the county. Every Democrat in a safe seat must meet the moment. We can’t lose anymore judgeships.

* Local and municipal politics matter. Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure of compliant officials. Let’s get them on the record for where they stand on protecting our freedom. Will we be paying local police time & 1/2 to help Trump suspend habeas corpus? We are going to need local electeds on the correct side of the police line.

Kingwood is in Houston. Republican At-Large Councilmembers Julian Ramirez, Willie Davis & Twila Carter must be defeated in 2027. Ms. Carter from Kingwood is Chair of Council’s Resilience Committee. She has canceled two of the past four monthly meetings & has not discussed FEMA or National Weather Service cuts. This is deeply irresponsible. Kingwood has a big flooding problem. All of Houston has a big flooding problem.

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 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 Council district maps so you can see who represents you. 
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* The work and risks of maintaining the failing systems that sustain elected officials and their networks is taken up in good part by the rank and file, but we don’t often don’t get much support in return.

We must have frank discussions in our homes and with the people in our lives about what self-defense looks like as we confront the right.

* The next protest is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. Protest is not going to be fully safe. We are fighting an authoritarian and white supremacist opponent.

* Each of us have power. The Harris County DA’s office took note of the e-mails they received asking for charges to be dropped against activist Sarah Terrell when she was wrongly arrested at the unelected-HISD Board meetings. Let’s have each other’s backs.

* We should be open with ourselves and the people in our lives that this all is a mental health crisis.

​* Support local efforts such as the Houston Democracy Project & Egberto Willies’ Politics Done Right.

I’ll next be speaking at the Democrats of La Porte meeting on July 13. I’m happy to speak at your club/org meeting.

​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. ​​

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.

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CIA Records A Great Houston Label-Check Them Out!

5/22/2025

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This past Tuesday evening, I went to see The Damned at the House of Blues here in Houston. Above you see a picture from the show. 

The Damned are a great punk rock band. They've been around for many years. I first saw them over 40 years ago at the famous Jockey Club in Newport, Kentucky. This was just across the Ohio Rover from my other hometown of Cincinnati. 

A great Houston punk rocker is Bob Weber. Bob has been a strong supporter of the Houston Democracy Project. Bob was the drummer in the classic Houston punk band Really Red. 

Bob is a founder of CIA Records in Houston. They put forth and support many local acts. 

Bob recently contacted me about a local act called Vulturcide. Here is information about the band and also a video they made. It's a good and creative video & a good song as well. 

Being part of a strong punk rock scene in Cincinnati in the 1980's made such a difference in my life. I still have many friends from those days. I still see them when I fly home to Cincinnati.

The Houston Democracy Project tries to keep it local. I'm glad I've met Bob and can make a plug for a local act and local label. Click the links above and check it all out. 

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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Harris County Judges Make Case For Truth-There Is More They & Houston Lawyers Can Do

5/21/2025

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​As part of my Houston Democracy Project work, I went to the May meeting of the Texas Democratic Women-Harris Metro. This  is a strong Democratic club in Harris County. The meeting was Monday evening, May 19. 

There was a panel of judges as featured guests. Above you see the panel. From left to right--Melissa Morris, Veronica Nelson, Natalia Cornelio, Hillary Unger & Te'iva Bell.

The judges said they act in a lawful fashion that enhances public safety. They said the attacks on the judges, almost entirely focused on Criminal Court judges, are in good part about capturing the Civil Courts. 

I believe all of that. I appreciate that many Harris County Judges are becoming more open to making public appearances to explain--within the constraints of ethics rules they are bound by--why they make some of the rulings that make the news.

The judges on the panel said that they would like to speak to your group of any kind, no matter how small the group, to help people understand. They said that they are counting on informed Democratic voters to help make the case with the wider electorate. 

There is more the judges could be doing & more local Democratic Party-supporting lawyers and pro-democracy attorneys who believe in the Constitution could be doing. 

Here are some things the judges could be doing in addition to efforts they are already making: 

1. Have a specific handout, or a website, for voters with clear steps on what to say and how to help.

For example: Will you commit to telling 10 friends that the bond decisions we make are mandated by the Texas Constitution & that Republican Harris County judges make the very same decisions?" 

2. Refine the presentations they make to just hammer out specific bullet points for people to easily repeat to others. The meeting I went to had all sorts of discussion of policy. It's not your role or my role to distill all that down to an effective pitch. They need to do that. 

3. One judge said how people keep getting misdemeanor bond reform confused with felony bond reform. Okay--But this confusion has gone on for years now & Democratic judges are losing seats at election time. Black women judges have so far been taking the hardest ballot-box hit.

What is the path to resolving the issue? One path is to directly ask Commissioner Rodney Ellis to spend some of his $ 6.4 million in campaign cash on hand on a turnout effort. The judges should call him and ask that he spend some of that money to boost Democratic turnout across Harris County in 2026. 

4. Mayor Whitmire keeps attacking the Democratic judges. Mayor Whitmire is sustained within the Democratic Party by the strong support of U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, State Senator Carol Alvarado, State Rep. Armando Walle & by the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation-AFL-CIO.

Labor will spend money to help elect the judges in 2026. That's good. Because of Whitmire, they'll have to use more resources to support the judges. It is one thing for Republicans to be going after the judges. It is another thing for it to be coming from a Democrat. 

There needs to be a political cost for support of Mayor Whitmire so long as he goes on attacking fellow Democrats. This is a discussion we need to continue and develop. We've seen with Kim Ogg that local Democratic officials can be held accountable by the rank & file. 

What can lawyers do? 

1. Take their oath to the Constitution seriously. It was suggested in the meeting that lawyers who practice in civil courts are not concerned with what goes on in criminal courts. How on Earth can they think the Constitution itself will survive the current onslaught?  Here is the Texas Bar oath all lawyers take.

2. They can raise money on their own to inform voters about what is really going on in the courts and to support the judges. They can offer volunteer time to help elect the judges in 2026. They can do these things because they took an oath to do so & because it is the right thing to do. What do they imagine the practice of law will be in an authoritarian society? 

Active rank & file Democrats in Harris County are at the limits of what they can do. Many of them are older. Door-to-door canvassing involves really hot days and many stray dogs. Many of these people are in multiple organizing groups. Often they spend their own money for stamps and post cards to contact voters. 

There are millions of dollars in these political ecosystems. The people doing at the work at the grassroots level don't see much of that money. It's an exploitive labor model & it is not working to protect democracy. 

Business-as-usual has run its course. We must do better. The leadership to do better will come from each of us. 

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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Houston Budget Must Connect To Attacks On Democracy-Will We Pay HPD Time 1/2 To Help Suspend Habeas Corpus?

5/19/2025

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​As part of my work on the Houston Democracy Project, I went to a City of Houston budget hearing this past Saturday morning put on by Houston City Council Finance Committee Chair Sallie Alcorn & Vice-Chair Mario Castillo from District H. 

The hearing was at Fonde Recreation Center which is a great city resource. Above is a picture of the hearing. Some more people showed up after I took the picture. The hearing had more energy than the picture conveys. There also were tables set up by city departments. Thank you to the city workers who showed up on a Saturday morning. 

Both Ms. Alcorn and Mr. Castillo are Democrats. Republican District E Councilmember Fred Flickinger was also there. Councilmember Alcorn is At-Large and represents the entire city. Here are Council district maps so you can see who represents you. 

Here is the Houston 2025-26 budget. There is a lot of information and specifics if you want to give the budget a hard look. There is a virtual budget hearing that you can take part in at 6 PM on Thursday, May 22. 

Here is a report on the budget from NPR station KUHF.  

From KUHF: 

"More than $7 million from the neighborhoods department, $1.8 million from libraries and more than $4 million from health — those cuts are among the $74.5 million in slashed general fund spending from fiscal year 2025 to 2026...While the majority of city departments would see cuts to spending, the fire department would receive an additional $23 million in funding, the police department would add $67 million to its budget, solid waste would receive an extra $1.4 million and the housing department would get an additional $346,000."

I spoke at the hearing. My Houston Democracy Project concern with the budget is how it interacts with the national political situation. Here are the points I made in the 2 or 3 minutes I spoke at the microphone-- 

* This budget process cannot be seen outside the current national political situation. City budget hearings in this budget cycle have established that 98% of Houston Housing Department funding is federal & that the health department looks to lose at least $62 million in federal funding. Other departments face losses & new federal funding may well no longer be extended. Here is the Housing Department hearing. Here is the Health Department hearing. 

* The six Republican Councilmembers—Carter, Ramirez, Davis, Flickinger, Huffman & Peck—bear specific responsibility for these cuts. They’ve not spoken up. Maybe they are afraid of Trump's mob if they speak up. It is a slap in the face to the public that the Chair of Council's so-called Resilience Committee is Twila Carter. Ms. Carter campaigned in 2024 for the very people now slashing the National Weather Service & FEMA. 

* Since Mr. Flickinger was there, I said that his part of town-Kingwood-often floods and he should work to oppose these cuts. I doubt I convinced him. But I tried. 

*There is an expensive new police contract that includes provisions making it more difficult to discipline HPD officers. With an April 25th Executive Order outlining U.S. military cooperation with local law enforcement, will our cash-strapped city be paying time & a half to enforce locally the suspension of habeas corpus, or to deport people without due process to the torture prison in El Salvador? 

*Mayor Whitmire really isn’t part of the discussion. He seems unable to adjust to, or to even acknowledge, the failure of the systems that have sustained his lucrative political career. He has power, but offers no helpful insight or vision. 

*You’ll all go forward with this budget process. So it goes. I urge that you understand your role as Councilmembers isn't what it was before. You each have the duty to protect Houstonians as much as possible from both state and federal government & to step up with courage to confront the trouble ahead. 

In reply, Ms. Alcorn-in a friendly manner-said Houston City Council looks to avoid partisanship. I replied that the time for that worn-out way of doing things at Houston City Hall has passed. Republicans supporting federal cuts promise so much harm to Houston must be held to account.

The work of freedom is up to each of us. Our local elected officials must fully join the fight. They won't fully join the fight unless we press them to do so. 

Here is information on how to follow and interact with Houston City Council--
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Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 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 Council district maps so you can see who represents you. 

Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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As Rotten As It All Is, We Must Fully Understand What The Right Intends-Bannon Interview

5/18/2025

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I try to keep it local and Steve Bannon is a bad guy, but I'm linking here to a recent Financial Times interview of Steve Bannon. 

Bannon, while repeating that the 2020 election was fixed, says that Trump will serve a 3rd term & that if Trump does not get what he wants from the courts they will suspend habeas corpus--Just as they are threatening.

The habeas corpus comments are at the 28 minute mark. The third term stuff is at the 30 minute mark. 

Nothing Bannon says is anything to be afraid of or to be resigned about. He's a gasbag. We can fight back and win. But we can't look the other way. 

Here is the text of the April 25th Executive Order that makes it even more difficult to prosecute cops & outlines the process where the U.S. military will cooperate with local law enforcement. 

Here is the text of the Executive Order that says at least 20,000 new ICE agents will be commissioned. This is in part b of section 3. They intend to hire folks from right off the street or from wherever. You can bet they'll be lousy brutal people. 

​There is a long a struggle ahead. We are going to win. We can't fail to acknowledge what is at stake. It's right in front of us, but I think that many on our side of the fight still don't want to see what is right in front of us. 

We have to see it clearly to understand the gravity of the fight and to be respond in a way that matches the gravity of the fight. 

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.
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All Elected Officials & Houston Police Officers Swear Oath To Constitution-Hold Them To It

5/15/2025

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​A bottom line focus of the Houston Democracy Project is that local elected Democrats at every level of government have an obligation to protect and defend the Constitution. 

(Above--Picture taken last year of original Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. People were very eager to see them both.)

Every so often I'll get some pushback that this is not part of the responsibilities of these officials. But it is! Protecting and defending the Constitution is part of the oath all elected officials take. 

Here is who must take an oath an office in Texas from the Texas Municipal League and then the oath itself. 

The Texas Constitution requires that all appointed and elected officers in the state must take an oath of office. TEX. CONST. Art. XVI, §1. This includes elected officials, such as city councilmembers and mayors, as well as other municipal offices. An “office” is defined generally as a position that “exercises a sovereign function of government largely independent of the control of others.”

The oath--

“I, _______________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of ___________________ of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God."

​It is not just elected officials who swear to uphold the Constitution. Here is the oath of office taken by Houston police officers as posted by the City of Houston:

I, (Name), do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of police officer of the city of Houston, Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state and city, so help me God. 

So with every threat to ignore the courts, disappear people to the torture prison in El Salvador or bypass Congress, recall that what is taking place is matter for every elected official & that police have an obligation to not obey un-Constitutional orders.

The Houston Police Officers Union has so far been silent on threats to suspend habeas corpus. 

They all took the oath. It is up to us to hold them to it.  

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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Remarks To Baytown Dems-Regular People Will Lead The Fight

5/14/2025

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​Yesterday I was the speaker at the monthly Baytown Area Democrats meeting. Above is a picture of some of the attendees and below is a nice evening scene from Baytown.

Here is a summary of what I said:

* It’s a real kindness for such a strong group of rank & file Democrats to ask me to speak. Thank you.

* The threats to our rights and to democracy are 100% real. They are serious about suspending habeas corpus, federalizing local police, using ICE as a general goon squad and ending fair elections.

* We must each ask ourselves what we want to accomplish—Winning elections, building community, protest. Some combination of these things? What works for you?

* Local elected Democrats such as John Whitmire, Rodney Ellis and Carol Alvarado should invest their large campaign bank funds in year-round efforts boost turnout across the county. Every Democrat in a safe seat must meet the moment. We can’t lose anymore judgeships.

* The work and risks of maintaining the failing systems that sustain elected officials and their networks is taken up in good part by the rank and file, but we don’t often don’t get much support in return.

* Local and municipal politics matter. Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure of compliant officials. Some local officials may surprise us with bravery. Let’s get them on the record for where they stand on our protecting our freedom.

* We must have frank discussions in our homes and with the people in our lives about what self-defense looks like as we confront the right.

* The next protest is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. Protest is not going to be fully safe. We are fighting an authoritarian and white supremacist opponent.

* Each of us have power. The Harris County DA’s office took note of the e-mails they received asking for charges to be dropped against activist Sarah Terrell when she was wrongly arrested at the unelected-HISD Board meetings. Let’s have each other’s backs. The charges were dropped. 

* We should be open with ourselves and the people in our lives that this all is a mental health crisis.

* Support local efforts such as the Houston Democracy Project & Egberto Willies’ Politics Done Right.

I’ll next be speaking at the Indivisible Kingwood meeting on May 22 & at the Democrats of La Porte meeting on July 13. I’m happy to speak at you club/org meeting.

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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Join A Protest-Essential People See Others Like Themselves Stand Confidently For Freedom

5/12/2025

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Please join us for Week 431 of John Cornyn Houston Office Protest, tomorrow, Tuesday, 5/13, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. (Don't park in 5300 building.) Above you see the protest last week. 


​Here are two other protests you can take part in each week: 

* Each Friday, noon to one, at the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer at the intersection of Westheimer and Eldridge. 

* At Rep. Crenshaw's office each Thursday, 10-11, at the corner of Kingwood and Green Oak. ​

It is essential people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently agains the aggression of the right. 

Keep an eye out for No Kings protests on Saturday, June 14. I'm hopeful that round of protests will be the biggest yet. 

I'm the featured speaker tomorrow, 5/13, at the Baytown Area Democrats meeting at 801 W. Texas in Baytown at 6 PM. 

I'll be posting my remarks at the meeting here on the blog &  will be writing up John Whitmire's appearance last week at the monthly Harris County Tejano Democrats meeting. 
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Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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Trump/Miller Assault Our Rights-Fighting Back In Houston/Harris County

5/10/2025

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It is clear that due process and freedom are under attack in the United States. We must understand what is going on and take action here at home. Each of us has the capacity to act. 

Trump is considering suspending habeas corpus.  

From The Guardian:

"The Trump administration is considering suspending the writ of habeas corpus, the legal right to challenge one’s detention, Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, said on Friday...“The constitution is clear, and that of course is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus could be suspended in time of invasion. So that’s an option we’re actively looking at. A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller said....The suspension clause of the US constitution says: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” The writ of habeas corpus has only been suspended four times in US history, most notably by Abraham Lincoln during the civil war. It was also suspended during efforts to fight the Ku Klux Klan in the 19th century in South Carolina, in the Philippines in 1905 and in Hawaii after Pearl Harbor."

A new Trump Executive Order calls for 20,000 people to be deputized to work for ICE.

From the Executive Order: 

"No later than 60 days after the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall supplement existing enforcement and removal operations by deputizing and contracting with State and local law enforcement officers, former Federal officers, officers and personnel within other Federal agencies, and other individuals to increase the enforcement and removal operations force of the Department of Homeland Security by no less than 20,000 officers in order to conduct an intensive campaign to remove illegal aliens who have failed to depart voluntarily."

Note that the order says "other individuals" can be made ICE officers. Just imagine people who will have the power to disappear those they claim are here illegally--Or to disappear just anybody they choose to go after. 

ICE is now threatening to arrest Members of Congress.

What does this all mean locally? What can be done in Houston/Harris County? 

* We should consider to ourselves and in conversations with others the implications of Trump's actions. If Trump and Miller claim we are being invaded, does that make anybody empowered by ICE a solider? Are local police officers working with ICE also soldiers? Are the police we interact with our normal local police, or do they have the power to send us away without due process? We must each understand as clearly as possible what we are facing. 

* We can join and organize local demonstrations.

Here are three can take part in right now-

Each Friday, noon to one, at the Social Security office at 13302 Westheimer at the intersection of Westheimer and Eldridge. 

The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest, each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. You can park on the side streets along the Black Walnut two blocks down. 


At Rep. Crenshaw's office each Thursday, 10-11, at the corner of Kingwood and Green Oak. 

​I believe the June 14 No Kings protests in Houston and across the country will be big. Keep an eye out. 

At bottom line, the next protest will be when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. Each of us has to capacity to organize in some way. Think about what works best for you. 

* Above you see a picture from U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia and Texas Senator Carol Alvarado marching behind an Abolish ICE banner in 2018. Rep. Garcia is near the center in a white t-shirt & Sen. Alvarado is to her immediate right in a yellow shirt.

This energy is required today. The stakes are even higher today. We need leadership from both these officials right now. Houston police are currently working with ICE  despite the fact Mayor Whitmire said they would not. Other law enforcement agencies in the county are also working with ICE. 

Here is how to contact Rep. Garcia. Here is how to contact Sen. Alvarado. 

Tell them they must step up. Both are close allies of Mayor Whitmire. Tell them Mayor Whitmire must also meet the challenge of moment. 

* State Senator Molly Cook has talked about the rights people have when dealing with ICE and law enforcement. More is needed with immigrants so vulnerable and with all are rights at risk. Contact Senator Cook and tell her we need to her to start talking about the specifics of who locally is working with ICE and how she will be helping Houstonians resist. The link below has a brief biography of Senator Cook where she is termed a "grassroots organizer." Grassroots organizing is very much needed. 

Here is how to contact Senator Cook. 
​

* Houston City Council Democrats must fully join the fight. They are no safer from what is coming than are any of us. Call and e-mail & ask them to join protests, monitor Houston Police conduct, work to improve voter turnout in all elections, speak strongly on behalf of democracy, ask Council Republicans if they support Trump/Miller and challenge Mayor Whitmire when necessary. (Which is often.)

Below is how to contact Houston City Council Democrats. (Here is the link to the contact City Council page.) 

At-Large-Letita 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]

Here is more information on contacting and following Houston City Council:

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 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.

* Mayor Whitmire must not be allowed to go on ignoring the gravity of the situation. You can reach Mayor Whitmire at 713-837-0311 & [email protected] 

I'll be posting here soon about seeing Mayor Whitmire speak at this week's Tejano Democrats meeting. He likes to tell stories about bygone days. It's going to take a lot for him to acknowledge to the public and to himself, that many of the Republicans he tells us to work with are white supremacists and authoritarians. Mayor Whitmire believes in systems that have paid off for him, but that have failed many of us. 

There is a long struggle ahead. There are many ways to offer meaningful opposition and to demand that the officials we elect have our backs. 

​Which of these ways works suggested here best for you? What can you do that has not been mentioned here? 

​Here is the Houston Democracy Project list of things each of us can do to fight Trump/Musk. 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. ​​

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.

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    Author

    I'm Neil Aquino.

    I'm a rank & file Houstonian. I’ve volunteered extensively for Democratic candidates and causes, and served as staff for multiple campaigns. My work for Democratic campaigns has involved communications and strategy. 

    I’m an organizer of the Weekly John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. The Cornyn Protest team has been outside Senator Cornyn’s office each Tuesday for eight years now with one clear message: In addition to voting, we must show up physically and non-conventionally for the fights over democracy. Events have proven this assertion correct. 
    ​
    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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​
    ​

    I am the 2024 Barbara Cigainero Volunteer of the Year Award recipient the Houston LGBTQIA+ Political Caucus. I have a political science degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and ran a Cincinnati City Council office.  

    I read a lot of books and follow baseball closely. 

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