578/13/2024
Protecting the First Amendment of the Constitution requires defending free speech and the rights to peaceful protest. All significant civil rights, human rights and social justice organizations align on the fact that protecting the First Amendment is key to preserving a functioning democracy. It is the opinion of the Houston NAACP and other allied social justice organizations that the proposed ordinance being considered by the Houston City Council is in contradiction to the Constitution and jeopardizes freedom of speech and lawful peaceful protest.
Therefore, the Houston NAACP is making the following action public:
On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, the Officers and Executive Committee Members of the NAACP Houston Branch voted to stand in opposition to and to urge the Houston City Council to vote NO on the proposed ordinance that would restrict public protest requiring a 200-feet distance from the targeted address, according to the language in the proposed ordinance.
It is the position of the Houston NAACP that if approved by Council, the proposed ordinance by Houston’s Mayor, John Whitmire would violate the Constitution and would be detrimental to the democratic process.
For this reason, we are urging the following...
1.We urge Mayor Whitmire to reconsider and withdraw the proposed ordinance.
2.We request that the Mayor considers a conversation with social justice leaders to discuss concerns and propose better options.
3.We urge City Council not to approve the proposed ordinance if brought to a vote.
We stand by what we believe is in the best interest of democracy, for all citizens of Houston and the nation.
Respectfully,
Dr. James Dixon, II, Branch President NAACP Houston Branch