Whitmire Defines "Turmoil" As Demanding Democracy And Opposing ICE-That Won't Keep Us Safe

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At Houston City Council on Wednesday, 9/10, Mayor Whitmire made brief reference to a Houston Chronicle article that talked about the heavy policing  of the Houston Labor Day democracy march and rally.

Mayor Whitmire said that due in part to HPD handling of protest, "Houston is the only major city not in turmoil right now."  Above you see the Mayor in his remarks. The comments are at the one hour and eight minute of the meeting. 

To the extent any other major city is in "turmoil right now", it is because of aggressive ICE activity and Trump sending National Guard and federal troops into cities. These reasons are the cause of upset in Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago. It is Trump bringing the "turmoil." 

Mayor Whitmire also spoke at Council about how he helped broker a solution between the two competing Martin Luther King parades in Houston. He talked about what a great figure Martin Luther King was. 

All that is correct & Mayor Whitmire merits credit for resolving the parade dispute. 

However, Martin Luther King would not have been amenable to a definition of good order based on failing to challenge power or silence in the face of wrong actions. 

From King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail:

"I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice." 

Houston City Council refuses to discuss HPD's cooperation with ICE and the ten Democratic members of Houston Council have not been vocal advocates for democracy. 

With the right in a malignant frenzy after the killing of Charlie Kirk and Fox News openly discussing murdering homeless people, a city-enforced absence of "turmoil" as Mayor Whitmire defines it won't keep Houstonians safe. Mayor Whitmire and Council should instead fully join Houstonians in fighting for our freedom in the challenging days ahead. 

At bottom line, we are going to have show up for ourselves. 

Here is information on following and interacting with Houston City Council: 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception of the last Friday of each month when it is at 5:30 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 maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council. 

Mayor Whitmire—713-837-0311 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Letitia 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]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​

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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