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Houston Democracy Project Blog

Showing Up Matters-It Takes Brains And Effort

9/3/2024

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Each Saturday I stand with microbiology professor Steve Norris at Hermann Park from noon to one. We are just off the big roundabout that has the statue of Sam Houston not far from the natural history museum. Steve started this action this past February and will be at the park each Saturday until the election.  

That's me on the left and Steve on the right this past Saturday. Steve made those signs on his own dime and has extras he offers to people who inquire.

In the center is a man from Brazil. He thanked us for being there and told about Brazil's struggles with anti-democratic former President Jair Bolsonaro. Us being there made a difference for this man. It helped the three of us talking to each other to see the global connections of these fights.     

It's important people see others like themselves showing up openly and confidently for democracy. We can't  forced out of public space by the aggression of the right. Almost every week Steve and I are asked if we are nervous to be there. (We are not.) It's not right that just standing in a park with a sign for an hour, should make people anxious for us.     
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Showing up requires brains. You need to know the value of showing up consistently, when to show up as a leader or in support and when to show up with something to say or just to listen to what others are saying.
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Please join Steve and myself at Hermann Park. It makes a difference. Voting alone is not going to get us out the challenges we are facing. We are going to need to show up when, where and how needed. We are going to need the connections established when we show up together.     

Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy 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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    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. 
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    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.​
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    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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