By James Thompson
HOUSTON – A very diverse group of Houston activists assembled in front of Texas U.S. Sentor Ted Cruz’ high-rise condo hacienda on March 8, 2014 to express their opposition to his right wing agenda. About 30 activists stood on the sidewalk in front of the Royalton at River Oaks at 3333 Allen Parkway and chanted and held signs which proclaimed “Ted Cruz is part of the problem,†“Ted Cruz is anti-union,†and many other slogans. Young and old, black and white and brown, men and women all participated in a lively demonstration to exercise their rights to Free Speech.
A heckler rode by on a bicycle and stopped to shout at the demonstrators. Some of the demonstrators went out courageously in the middle of a very busy street to confront this man. The men confronting the heckler included Juan of the Latin American Organization for Immigrant Rights and a member of the Houston Peace and Justice Coalition. The confrontation was peaceful and no one was hurt.
Dr. David Smith of the Progressive Workers Organizing Committee said while organizing the demonstration “Cruz has been leading the opposition to comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, so all of us should be proud to lead the opposition to Cruz.†James Harrington of the Houston Communist Party said that “Cruz is a disgrace to Texas. All working people in Texas should reject his anti-worker and pro-wealthy stance.â€
The demonstration was called by and organized by the Progressive Workers Organizing Committee, and Latin American Organization for Immigrant Rights. It was endorsed by the Houston Communist Party, Houston Peace Council, Communist Party USA – Houston and People before Profits. Participants included working people, retirees, students and union members.
Cruz’ luxurious condo is located in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston. River Oaks is the neighborhood of the wealthiest plutocrats in Houston. A quick check on the internet revealed that condos in Cruz’ residence range from one million dollars, that’s right $1,000,000 on up. It dramatizes Cruz’ arrogance and disdain for working people who could hardly afford such luxurious digs. It gives one pause to consider what Cruz must have done to amass the kind of money to propel him into this high rise condo so that he can look down on the working people of Houston.
You can watch a YouTube video of the demonstration at http://youtu.be/UyfP8sVKbXQ .
Rally against Ted Cruz 12/7/2013
It was a very energetic group of which I am very proud to have been a part of.