A number of Houston community organizations are planning a rally in MacGregor Park at 5 p.m. today, in response to a Ferguson, Mo., grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown back in August.
Officials in and around Greater Houston are calling for peaceful protest. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents much of the city of Houston, said in a statement last night that "we know that the voices of the people must be heard, but we should adhere to the message of nonviolence and change through the legal process." She went on to say "I continue to plead for peaceful protest across the country."
On Monday, the Harris County Sheriff's office stated that their office, "in partnership with the Houston Police Department, and Houston-area pastors, reminds the public that their right to peacefully assemble will be respected," and that they will "work jointly to make sure that the safety of everyone remains a priority."
The hope is that Houston, like other cities nationwide, will see protests that are more peaceful than what transpired late last night and overnight in Ferguson itself, where violence and looting led to significant property damage and dozens of arrests.
On this edition of Houston Matters, we review some of the larger issues raised by events in Ferguson.
Then, we turn to you with a simple question: What are you thankful for? We’ll welcome your examples of those things in your life and times here in Greater Houston for which you’re most appreciative. It could be family of friends. It could be something about Houston itself — our culture, our food, our air-conditioned baseball. Whatever it is, share it with us at talk@houstonmatters.org, or call us during the program at 713-440-8870. Houston Public Media’s Ernie Manouse and Houston area comedian Stephanie Fisher join us to discuss some of what they’re thankful for about life in Houston today.
Also this hour: A special pre-Thanksgiving edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Our panel of non-experts this week includes: attorney Mark Bennett, who writes the “Defending People” blog; Russ Capper, founder and host of The BusinessMakers Show and The Energy Makers Show; and Houston Chronicle writer and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! panelist Kyrie O’Connor. We’ll discuss Halliburton’s planned purchase of Baker Hughes, the growth of solar energy in Texas, and why a Wall Street Journal reporter got in some hot water with Texas barbecue aficionados.
