Houston PD Sets Sights on Peaceful, Houston-based Activists
The Houston Free Thinkers (HFT) self-describes as “a community alliance of concerned citizens who come together to raise awareness on topics ignored by the mainstream media, the government, and corporations” that places a “strong emphasis and focus on solutions and community building.”
Apparently this peaceful group of doers and their efforts to bring accountability to H-town so undermines the Statist Quo that instructors with the Houston Police Department (HPD) have held at least one training session discussing the group, as HFT folks learned of from someone who attended the training:
As Derrick Broze noted in his post The Houston Police Department Targeting Houston Activists at IntelliHub.com on Apri 24, 2013, one of the most-active with the HFT noted, “The session was apparently held to inform officers of activists who are aware of the law and how to find ways to successfully make arrests while dealing with ‘know it all groups.'”
More-recently a picture from that training session was shared with the crew at HFT, which further makes clear how HPD employees are (mis)allocating their resources. 
It should be clear to anyone paying attention that the policy of HPD taken toward HFT – to single out and paint peaceful individuals as criminal – is not aligned with their stated mission to “enhance the quality of life in the city of Houston by working cooperatively with the public to prevent crime, enforce the law, preserve the peace, and provide a safe environment.”
But we really shouldn’t be surprised, after all, those active in the coercive monopoly of policing put protection of their institution before safeguarding “customers” or bringing-about justice.
Of this situation, Jacob Crawford wrote at WeCopwatch.org wrote:
However you look at it, this appears to be just another example of local police likely in collaboration the local Joint Terrorism Task Force attempting to criminalize people engaged in peaceful 1st amendment activity.
As Derrick Broze succinctly pointed-out in the post Update: Houston Police Department Continues to Target Houston Activists at TheLibertyBeat.com on June 28th, 2013:
Apparently being associated with the Houston Free Thinkers is enough to get you monitored.
This should serve as awareness for all activists who engage the police officers directly. You will be tracked, you will be monitored and possibly infiltrated. More than ever, building a sense of community is important. Strong community relationships are the greatest block to an officers infiltration. The police seek to take advantage of disagreements and cause discord. Do not allow yourselves to be divided and turned against each other.
So who should be the ones that are being tracked, monitored and arrested? Members of the Houston Police Department gang have raped women, killed mentally handicap paraplegics, stomped on 15 year old kids, and continues to waste taxpayer money by monitoring innocent citizens.
On the other hand, the community activist alliance known as the Houston Free Thinkers has donated thousands of dollars to community causes, contribute to community gardens, kicked the TSA off the Houston Metro, helped with Food Not Bombs homeless feeding efforts, and continues to offer free documentary screenings and skillshare classes.
Who is the real threat? The State or the Community?
As if to underscore the questions posed by Broze, check out the video below captured in January 2012, which exemplifies the attitude and “service” the HPD has thus far employed against the HFT.
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Let those at Houston Police Department know your thoughts:
(713) 884-3131
1200 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002
HoustonPolice.org
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Connect with the Houston Free Thinkers:
HoustonFreeThinkers.com
YouTube.com/HoustonFreeThinkers
Facebook.com/groups/HoustonFreeThinkers
[click picture below to view HFT’s videos]
