Teare & Salinas Address ICE Killing-Both Say Public Pressure Must Continue

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​Yesterday evening, 7/22, I attended the joint Super Neighborhood 64 & 88 meeting at the Magnolia Multiservice Center.  64 & 88 serve Greater Eastwood, Lawndale and Eastwood. Lindsey Williams is president of both 64 & 88. 

Ms. Williams and her team of civically-minded Houstonians ran a solid meeting. Ms. Williams said the meeting was for the people of the local community and for anybody who wanted to learn. There were nearly 100 people at the meeting. District I Councilmember Joaquin Martinez was not at the meeting. 

The topic last night was the ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and protecting your rights should you encounter immigration officers. 

Democratic Houston At-Large Councilmember Alejandra Salinas was a speaker at the meeting. You see her at the microphone below with Ms. Williams at the podium. 

Here are some things she said:

* That at the time of the shooting, Mayor Whitmire and Chief Diaz said the city did not have any jurisdiction to investigate. (This important to keep repeating because Mayor Whitmire and his allies want you to believe that he was on the case from the start. He wasn't.)

* HPD has been increasing the number of times it calls ICE. Here is a list of each time HPD called ICE between April 1 and June 30. The list is on Councilmember Salinas' official website. She said she has a meting with Chief Diaz next week. 

* Asked about calls for "decorum" at Houston City Council from Mayor Whitmire and some councilmembers, Ms. Salinas said all the right things about listening to Houstonians.

* People must continue to apply public pressure.

Another speaker was District Attorney Sean Teare. You see him above.

Here are some things he said:

* Even if the people who were in the van that was attacked by ICE are deported, the Harris County DA's office would go wherever they are and get a statement. 

* The DA's office may well have the capacity to determine the names of the ICE agents involved in the killing. 

* The DA's office may well have all the videos of the shooting including some the public has not seen.

* The ability to prosecute some crimes in Harris County is being impeded by people's fear of ICE. 

* People must continue to apply public pressure.

There was also a presentation on what rights you have if confronted by ICE. Here is information on that topic from the National Immigrant Justice Center.

Thanks to Super Neighborhoods 64 and 88 for the excellent meeting. It was a great example of rank and file leadership. Thanks to people across the Houston-region who have demanded accountability and who are taking the lead. Both Mr. Teare and Ms. Salinas reported that your efforts are important.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Voting will not be enough. The work ahead is ours.

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