Black The Vote! A Guide For The 2016 Election

As an organizer in the Black Lives Matter movement I walk a fine line to have a relationship with the political community, the activist community, and the population in general. On this matter, it is highly important that you all know I am a registered and active voter. I respect those who do not cosign that fact and I will not try to convince you to do other than what you believe you should do. Now for those of you who do vote, it should be imperative that you know and understand that this year's election is bigger than that of the Presidential race alone. In Texas, Harris county to be more specific, we have one of the largest ballots in the state that affect how laws are created to enhance or destroy rights for Black and Brown bodies. This post serves as the first in a series of posts to come leading to the November 8, 2016 general election.

In keeping with our platform in the Movement For Black Lives:

"Black humanity and dignity requires Black political will and power. Despite constant exploitation and perpetual oppression, Black people have bravely and brilliantly been the driving force pushing the U.S. towards the ideals it articulates but has never achieved. In recent years we have taken to the streets, launched massive campaigns, and impacted elections, but our elected leaders have failed to address the legitimate demands of our Movement. We can no longer wait.

In response to the sustained and increasingly visible violence against Black communities in the U.S. and globally, a collective of more than 50 organizations representing thousands of Black people from across the country have come together with renewed energy and purpose to articulate a common vision and agenda. We are a collective that centers and is rooted in Black communities, but we recognize we have a shared struggle with all oppressed people; collective liberation will be a product of all of our work.

We believe in elevating the experiences and leadership of the most marginalized Black people, including but not limited to those who are women, queer, trans, femmes, gender nonconforming, Muslim, formerly and currently incarcerated, cash poor and working class, differently-abled, undocumented, and immigrant. We are intentional about amplifying the particular experience of state and gendered violence that Black queer, trans, gender nonconforming, women and intersex people face. There can be no liberation for all Black people if we do not center and fight for those who have been marginalized. It is our hope that by working together to create and amplify a shared agenda, we can continue to move towards a world in which the full humanity and dignity of all people is recognized.

While this platform is focused on domestic policies, we know that patriarchy, exploitative capitalism, militarism, and white supremacy know no borders. We stand in solidarity with our international family against the ravages of global capitalism and anti-Black racism, human-made climate change, war, and exploitation. We also stand with descendants of African people all over the world in an ongoing call and struggle for reparations for the historic and continuing harms of colonialism and slavery. We also recognize and honor the rights and struggle of our Indigenous family for land and self-determination.

We have created this platform to articulate and support the ambitions and work of Black people. We also seek to intervene in the current political climate and assert a clear vision, particularly for those who claim to be our allies, of the world we want them to help us create. We reject false solutions and believe we can achieve a complete transformation of the current systems, which place profit over people and make it impossible for many of us to breathe.

Together, we demand an end to the wars against Black people. We demand that the government repair the harms that have been done to Black communities in the form of reparations and targeted long-term investments. We also demand a defunding of the systems and institutions that criminalize and cage us. This document articulates our vision of a fundamentally different world. However, we recognize the need to include policies that address the immediate suffering of Black people. These policies, while less transformational, are necessary to address the current material conditions of our people and will better equip us to win the world we demand and deserve.

We recognize that not all of our collective needs and visions can be translated into policy, but we understand that policy change is one of many tactics necessary to move us towards the world we envision. We have come together now because we believe it is time to forge a new covenant. We are dreamers and doers and this platform is meant to articulate some of our vision. The links throughout the document provide the stepping-stones and roadmaps of how to get there. The policy briefs also elevate the brave and transformative work our people are already engaged in, and build on some of the best thinking in our history of struggle. This agenda continues the legacy of our ancestors who pushed for reparations, Black self-determination and community control; and also propels new iterations of movements such as efforts for reproductive justice, holistic healing and reconciliation, and ending violence against Black cis, queer, and trans people."

There are a lot of races on the ballot, but THESE are the races you need to watch, the candidates listed are Democrats:

Harris County District Attorney - Kim Ogg 

Check this out: http://ashtonpwoods.strengthinnumbershouston.com/2016/08/byedevon-why-district-attorney-devon.html

Harris County Sheriff - Ed Gonzalez

Harris County Commissioner, Precinct No. 1 - Rodney Ellis

Harris County Commissioner, Precinct No. 3 - Jenifer Rene Pool

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 16 - Darrell William Jordan

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector - Ann Harris Bennett

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 1 - Alan Rosen

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 2 - Christopher “Chris” Diaz

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 3 - Sherman Eagleton

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 4 - Jeff McGowen

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 6 - Silvia Trevino

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 7 - May Walker

Harris County Constable, Precinct No. 8 - Heather Perry

I could list the Republicans, but I'm petty and they ain't about protecting Black and Brown folks... listed below are the lists of races on both sides:

Democrats:

Republican:

If you are a voter or want to vote, these are the steps that you should be taking RIGHT NOW:

• Make sure you have valid identification.

• If you have voted before, check your registration to see if it is current here:
• http://www.hctax.net/Voter/Search

• IF you aren't registered please follow these steps:

• Read this first:

• Then fill out the Voter Registration Application: ENGLISH - SPANISH

• If you would rather Request for Postage-Paid Voter Registration Form: ENGLISH - SPANISH