Whitmire looks to crack down on protests
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Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate outside the River Oaks home of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Photo: Jay R. Jordan/Axios
Months after protesters started showing up outside his home, Houston Mayor John Whitmire is asking the City Council to prohibit such demonstrations.
Why it matters: A proposal before the council on Wednesday would restrict protests outside the homes of politicians, an increasingly common tactic among Houston organizers to exert pressure.
Driving the news: Council members will vote on whether to ban "focused picketing within 200 feet [of] a targeted dwelling" and allow Houston police officers to cite or arrest anyone they accuse of violating the ordinance, according to the agenda item for the proposal.
- It would also prohibit the issuance of a permit for any demonstration in front of a residential property, even on a public street or sidewalk.
The intrigue: Whitmire spokesperson Mary Benton said the mayor's office was approached by law enforcement leaders and elected officials who wanted rules similar to those in Dallas that restrict picketing in residential areas.
- "This is a way to preserve the right to protest for individuals but also give people an opportunity to be peacefully in their homes without major disruption," Benton said in a statement to Axios, adding that some protesters have used laser pointers during demonstrations.
State of play: Demonstrators have picketed outside the homes of Houston politicians, most notably Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) — protesting his Cancun trip during the 2021 winter storm and condemning his support for Israel's war in Gaza.
- Pro-Palestinian protesters have also demonstrated outside the home of U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) and, most recently, in front of Whitmire's house. They've argued that protests must disrupt decisionmakers' lives to be effective.
Background: Protesters in Houston currently are allowed on the sidewalk and street as long as they do not block access.
- Protesters must remain below specified decibel levels, per the city's noise ordinance. However, officers typically ask individuals to lower the noise before issuing citations, Houston Police Department public information officer John Cannon previously told Axios.
The other side: Pro-Palestinian protesters see the proposed ordinance as a direct attempt to silence them.
- Saif Kazim, an attorney and a member of Houston for Palestinian Liberation, said there are already laws in place to protect people from unreasonable disturbances, such as limits on noise, trespassing, and blocking sidewalks or driveways.
What they're saying: "Neighborhood protests … have a pretty long history in American public discourse," Kazim tells Axios. "I mean, we could go all the way back to the founding, and how people used to protest in front of elected officials' homes in order to make their demands and that's the tradition that's continued."
- "This is another way for the mayor to crack down on dissent that he's unhappy with."
Between the lines: Whitmire has long ignored pleas from pro-Palestinian supporters for City Hall to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling them "enemies" of the city's Jewish leaders.
What's next: City Council is slated to vote Wednesday morning.