Video shows Texas GOP official seeking 'army' of volunteers to monitor polls in mostly Black and His

[jmbar2]

Source: Washington post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/leaked-presentation-from-harris-county-gop-calls-for-army-of-poll-watchers/2021/04/08/8427ad1f-1bb7-4bd9-83ba-a8360212c769_video.html



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/08/texas-voting-gop-poll-watchers/

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This is appalling.

I used to vote in a majority African American precinct in Harris County, where voting was treated as sacred. The church elders manned the voting site in their Sunday best, and did everything possible to make people comfortable and welcome.

They revered the democratic process.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. I remember reports about this at the time (nt)

[jmbar2]

2. Sounds like they are planning to overrun the African American precincts

Working the polls and elections are a major community service performed by the African American churches. This is an attempt to eject them from a longstanding role in Houston. I am so disgusted.

[aggiesal]

8. Poll watcher usually don't have any authority ...

You can have poll watchers for every party at a precinct.

This is purely done for intimidation.

The Precinct Captain could just as easily kick them out if they are creating too much of a disturbance.

[jmbar2]

9. It's an insulting slap in the face to folks who have done this for generations

They are kind of a tradition. Lovely grandmothers, aunties and uncles, in suits and hats.

[aggiesal]

24. I've done it ...

No insult intended.
But all we do is make sure that (D)'s get to the polls by reviewing the poll sheet when it is updated.

By no authority, I meant that we don't usually question the legitimacy of a voter or their ballot.
That's what (R)'s tell their poll watchers to do, then when they find out that they pretty much can't
do what they're asked to do, they don't return for the next election.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Video shows Texas GOP official seeking 'army' of volunteers to monitor polls in mostly Black and His

Video shows Texas GOP official seeking ‘army’ of volunteers to monitor polls in mostly Black and Hispanic Houston precincts

April 8, 2021 at 3:25 p.m. CDT

In a leaked video of a recent presentation, a man who identifies himself as a GOP official in Harris County, Tex., says the party needs 10,000 Republicans for an “election integrity brigade” in Houston.

Then he pulls up a map of the area’s voting precincts and points to Houston’s dense, racially diverse urban core, saying the party specifically needed volunteers with “the confidence and courage to come down here,” adding, “this is where the fraud is occurring.”

. . .

Now, the government accountability group Common Cause Texas — which published the footage Thursday — is raising alarm that such an effort could instead serve to intimidate and suppress voters in metro Houston.

“It’s very clear that we’re talking about recruiting people from the predominantly Anglo parts of town to go to Black and Brown neighborhoods,” Anthony Gutierrez, the group’s executive director, told The Washington Post.
“This is a role that’s supposed to do nothing but stand at a poll site and observe,” he added. So “why is he suggesting someone needs to be ‘courageous’?” Gutierrez asked.

More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/08/texas-voting-gop-poll-watchers/

[jmbar2]

5. Thanks for adding the context

[Judi Lynn]

10. Thanks for catching the story, jmbar2. ⭐️👋

[Maraya1969]

4. Paywall. If anyone can find it on Youtube....

[jmbar2]

7. Try this

There is a full length video lower on the page. Not sure if it is also paywalled.

https://lettexasvote.org/alarming-video-reveals-details-of-discriminatory-poll-watcher-program-in-harris-county/

[Grins]

6. "Engage" with voters?

“The goal is to activate an army of volunteers for every precinct...(and) to engage voters for the whole ballot, top to bottom.” - GOP’s Siegel.

Engage? Are they going to give them water? ‘Cuz in some Republican states...!

[DENVERPOPS]

11. I am sure

these "Army" will all come with full battle dress, helmets and their assault weapons, knowing Texas gun laws..........

I am sooo sick of this RepubliCON bull shit...................

[Midnight Writer]

12. Do you think he will welcome an army of black poll watchers in his district?

[jmbar2]

13. I sort of doubt it...

But they better be there.

[ffr]

14. Subliminal message is those suburban precincts are where the voter fraud occurs

Therefore the GOPs overreaching democracy killing voter restrictions are warranted.

[TlalocW]

15. I wonder how true his allegatins of fraud were in the first place

I have a feeling they were made up because he needed a justification to do this.

TlalocW

[jmbar2]

19. One of the most publicized cases was a woman set up by Project Veritas

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/TX-woman-arrested-election-fraud-project-veritas-15867537.php

[BobTheSubgenius]

16. You are right....it IS appalling!

Your voting history is one of reverence and inclusion. "Their's" is a very grudging acceptance, a necessary evil. And only necessary because the law says so.

[Skittles]

17. army of racists

to be more clear

[Ford_Prefect]

18. It is the presumption of guilt inherent in the claim which drives this racist attack.

On no evidence they claim there were and would be deliberate irregularities in procedure but ONLY in those precincts.

[jmbar2]

20. That's what gets me too

I came to love voting because of the quality of the people at the polls. It felt like going to church. The women wore beautiful hats and the men snazzy suits and ties. They take democracy SERIOUSLY.

[Ford_Prefect]

21. That's my experience too. It was like going to church.

[sakabatou]

22. Can anyone say voter intimidation?

[jmbar2]

23. not just voters

its also to create suspicion about long-term election workers from the African American community.

[MissMillie]

25. Can't help but wonder...

of the verified instances of voter fraud in the November election (like the guy in PA would requested ballots for his mother and his mother-in-law--both deceased) how many of the alleged perpetrators were people of color?

[llashram]

26. my parents

went through this and other"tests" to vote...I am 70ish. And those times for POC, African-Americans specifically, are here again. The last potus has made sure racial hate, cultural division and reich-wing sedition will be around for a long time...again.