Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on the Policing Budget Survey and for your interest in the Houston Abolitionist Collective! The results of the survey are attached. 

HAC is a collective of organizers and activists fighting for the abolition of policing in Houston and Harris County. We work with and for all people affected by mass incarceration, the criminalization of poverty, and the violent policing of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and all communities of color. Through our work, we will support the national #8toAbolition platform as our members identify and execute strategies toward abolition.

Right now we are working on several actions around the Houston budget, which will be voted on June 2nd and go into effect July 1, 2021. We are demanding the Houston City Council and Mayor amend the proposed budget to decrease the police budget, which is currently set to increase by $30 million, and redirect funding to the Health Dept., Dept. of Neighborhoods, Library systems, Solid Waste, Parks, and Housing. 

Here are some easy ways you can get involved before the budget amendment deadline on May 27th:

• Sign up to speak out at a Public Hearing on the City Budgets on Wednesday, May 26th at 9am. All speakers should register in advance (Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 by 3:00 p.m.). The hearing is posted to begin at 9:00 a.m. but might begin later based on the agenda. If you did not register in advance, you will not be recognized to speak. To sign up to speak, please call the City Secretary’s Office at 832-393-1100 or email speakers@houstontx.gov. If you need interpretation services, please notify staff when registering. You will need to call in prior to the start of the meeting. The number to call is: (936) 755-1521; Conference ID# 225 117 002#.

• Sign our petition for Mayor Turner & the Houston City Council Members to reallocate funds from the policing budget to other city departments. This will also send a letter automatically to City Council Members and the Mayor through Action Network with the survey results and demands. 

• Join HAC at City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Houston 77002 on Thursday, May 27th at 2pm to deliver our demands, petition, and survey results to City Council and make a ruckus! (follow @LiberateHTX on IG for any changes/updates).

• Share these graphics with your networks on the survey results, quotes from the community on alternatives to policing, and infographics on the public hearing, petition, and action. Tag HAC on Twitter & Instagram @LiberateHTX, and use the hashtag #HOUBudget.

• Sign HAC’s pledge to seek alternatives to policing at https://www.LiberateHTX.com/pledge and share with friends and family.

In Solidarity,

The Houston Abolitionist Collective