Since It Is Us Doing The Work, We Can Organize Opposition To Authoritarian Takeover On Our Own Schedule

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​The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest had 38 in attendance for today's 436th week outside the Senator's office. Above you see our team today. We meet each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. Please join us. 

Yesterday evening, I watched/listened to a one hour Zoom call held by some of the national coalition members for the No Kings protest which took place this past Saturday in the Houston-area  & across the nation. You can watch the call & review the No Kings website here. 

It is estimated that there were--at the least--five million people five million people who took part in the protests. Some estimates are as high as 11 million.

In the No Kings call yesterday, the organizers said the next big protest will be on Thursday, July 17. I've also seen some online discussion for an event on July 4th. We'll see where it all goes. I don't understand how an event on a Thursday will get the biggest possible crowd. 

The organizers on the call last night were unions, non-profit advocacy groups and Indivisible. There was also progressive Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from the Seattle-area. Rep. Jayapal thanked the big groups involved, but did not thank the many thousands of volunteers who did the work to get the big crowds on Saturday. It was disappointing. 

It was volunteers who did the great bulk of the work for this past Saturday. 

Here are two things I would say:

1. Take part in whatever protests you want to take part in. I'm sure I'll be at the July 17 event referenced above. But also understand that these groups have their own motives. They will ask us to provide the volunteer infrastructure for all this & to take on the risks of dealing with far-right counter-protestors and the police.

​It is less likely that they will offer resources or engage in meaningful consultation with us about strategy. The people who work for these entities may well be good people. They are also are very much about their careers and their relationships with elected officials. It's best to be wary when interacting with them. 

We are doing the work. Much of the work is being done by older people. These are the hours of our lives. We can decide how we will proceed with our own efforts. 

2. We don't need to wait for anybody to hold a protest or to engage in an action against the authoritarian, white supremacist  takeover of our nation. The next protest is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. Do things on your schedule. Don't wait for word from above. 

​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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