State Rep. Armando Walle Has Options Between Hoping Republicans Do Right Thing & Fatalism

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The Texas Legislature has passed hateful legislation allowing police any place in Texas to detain individuals they might suspect to have crossed the border illegally. 

Above is a press release from Democratic State Rep. Armando Walle of Houston regarding the bill. Rep. Walle does not discuss in this release that his endorsed candidate for Mayor of Houston, State Senator John Whitmire, has said he'll bring 250 Texas DPS troops to police Houston. These troops will be fully commissioned to serve as deportation battalions in Houston communities. (These Greg Abbott state police  also would presumably enforce Donald Trump's intended use of the Insurrection Act to stifle protest and dissent if he returns to the White House.)    

Rep. Walle prides himself on a bipartisan approach to legislating. It does not seem based on his press release he thinks this approach was successful on legislation he says is a direct threat to the people he represents.

Below is a tweet Rep. Walle made after the bill passed about "how the tables will turn" in the Texas Legislature and how he sure hopes to be around long enough to see it happen.

There is a middle ground between hoping Republicans will do the right thing on the one hand, and just waiting around for better days ahead on the other hand.

Our local elected Democrats could engage in regular GOTV efforts, show up for the full ticket in every election cycle, sponsor consistent block walks and phone banks with campaign resources and commit themselves every effort to bolster voter turnout in the many areas of Harris County where turnout could be better. (The entire county essentially.) 

It's not just Rep. Walle who could do better in these respects. It's nearly all our City of Houston & Harris County elected Democrats. There is so much at stake in 2024. We must insist they meet the challenge.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

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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