Above you see Andy Wilson of Public Citizen here in Texas speaking in Houston today about reports of intimidation of voters at polling paces in Harris County.
With Mr. Wilson to the left is Anita Privett of the League of Women Voters of Texas.
Here are details of this press conference from the Public Citizen blog Texas Vox.
From the press release---
"Last week as early voting for the Nov. 2 General Election got under way, there were complaints of poll watchers interfering with or intimidating voters and other potential election violations in Harris and Bexar Counties. Our organizations-LWV-Texas, Public Citizen, and Common Cause-condemn any and all attempts to sway this election by controlling who gets to vote. The right to vote is sacred. People have died for this right, both in our nation's past and even in our recent history. Registered citizens should never be turned away from being able to vote. Our greatest patriots, such as Washington and Lincoln, waged war to insure that taxation without representation did not occur and to protect the notion of government for, of, and by the people. It was a Texan, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who pushed through Congress and then signed the Voting Rights Act which protects the rights of all citizens to register and to vote. We want to encourage everyone, in Harris County, Bexar County, and across the state, to come out and vote, regardless of ideology, gender, race, income, whether your community is urban, suburban, or rural, and whether your preferred party is Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, or Tea. Do not let tales of intimidation frighten you away..."
The Houston Chronicle has reported on these allegations of harassment.
Perry Dorrell at the great Houston blog Brains & Eggs has written on the matter.
All citizens have the right to vote. It's a shame if that right is being questioned by some based on superficial differences of skin color or because someone may live in one part of Harris County rather than in another part of the county.
You should have kicked right square in the 50/50.
I cussed out an old man at the polls last week when I voted. I do not usually cuss the elderly out, but he was so damn ugly and horrid, and I was ill, I couldn't stop myself.
No one should have to have people yelling at them that they are trying to break the country as they are walking in to vote.
I just wear an Oakland Raiders jersey and flash "gang" signs and they leave me alone.
When I went to the poll I harassed the harassers. I love doing that...It got me a few laughs :O) and a little insight into what was on the minds of some of the other voters.