City Council sent Mayor John Whitmire’s proposal to restrict residential protests to committee Wednesday, delaying a vote on the controversial idea several more weeks.

Whitmire requested the committee referral following two weeks of criticism over the measure by a loose coalition of groups concerned it could infringe on residents’ First Amendment right to protest and free speech. Whitmire said he decided to pull the measure after a lengthy public hearing on Tuesday in which dozens of residents testified against it, to allow for more input. He still supports the measure, he added.

“Protect the First Amendment at all costs, but also have respect for the neighborhood that you’re protesting in,” Whitmire said.

The proposal would make it illegal to picket within 200 feet of a targeted residential dwelling.

Wednesday marked the second time a vote on the proposal was delayed. Whitmire first brought the proposal to council two weeks ago, where it was tagged by several members. 

More than two dozen speakers showed up at Tuesday’s public session to talk about the measure. All but one opposed it.

Council members voted 13-3 to send the proposed ordinance to committee. 

At-Large Councilmember Letitia Plummer, District J Councilmember Tiffany Thomas and District F Councilmember Edward Pollard voted against the committee referral, voicing opposition to the measure as a whole. 

The council members noted there already are regulations to deal with rowdy protests, such as the city’s noise ordinance, making Whitmire’s proposal feel like an unnecessary restriction. 

Plummer took particular issue with Whitmire’s rhetoric toward the pro-Palestinian protesters, despite the proposal applying to residential protests by any group. 

“Everyone in this city has a right to express their feelings, they have a right to do that. I feel like public demonstrations and picketing are ways that historically things have moved forward,” Plummer said. 

Whitmire has said the proposed ordinance was prompted by months of protests in front of his and other public officials’ homes by pro-Palestinian protesters advocating for an end to the war between Hamas and Israel. 

The residential protests have occurred for months, primarily targeting the homes of Whitmire, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat. 

Activism surrounding the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestinians has exploded locally and nationally since last October when Israel invaded Gaza following a cross-border attack by Hamas that left killed nearly 1,200 people, according to the Israeli government. The 10-month campaign has left more than 39,000 dead, displaced thousands more and created the risk of famine for Gaza’s population of 2 million people, according to Palestinian authorities.

Protesters say Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attack has been excessive and has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. They generally call for a ceasefire and for an end to U.S. military and financial aid to Israel. The Israeli government maintains it is following international law and takes steps to avoid civilian casualties. 

The protesters that frequent Whitmire’s house said their advocacy in Houston is aimed at encouraging the mayor to publicly advocate for a ceasefire and for Houston to halt payments on an Israeli bond held by the city. The protests moved to the front of Whitmire’s house because the mayor has been dismissive of their central message, protesters said. 

The same group held a protest outside of City Hall during public comment on Tuesday. Chants and noise makers from outside could be heard in the council chamber for much of the testimony about the proposal. 

“We have chosen every forum that he has provided us to come speak to him and he has ignored all of them,” said Nishu Siddique, an organizer with Houston for Palestinian Liberation. “He gets up, he walks away, he rolls his eyes, he does everything in his power to make it clear that Palestine is not an issue for Houston, but it is.”

Whitmire previously has said the war is an international issue, not one the city has any control over. 

Regardless, the proposal has drawn opposition beyond pro-Palestininian organizations, including the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. 

The Caucus voted to oppose the measure during its August meeting and Jack Valinski, a longtime organizer with The Caucus, testified against the proposal Tuesday. 

“Our pride has always been rooted in the use of protest and community advocacy, such as Stonewall and the work of Act Up,” read the Caucus’ statement. “We must continue to admonish oppression and discrimination and protect our First Amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly, especially when those rights are under attack by our elected officials.” 

Siddique said Whitmire’s decision to pull the item temporarily was a victory brought by attention on the measure from organizations like the ACLU and the Caucus. 

Whitmire reiterated his claim Wednesday that the group gathering in front of his house was made up of “paid, professional protesters.” 

Pressed for evidence of that claim, Whitmire first indicated local media had reported as such, then said there are “intelligence reports” that some of the protesters are paid by the Iranian government but “I’m not going to go through it in public.”

“Some of them are very legitimate, passionate people that on some given day I would stand with them,” Whitmire said. “There are professional protesters. They go to different locations. Intelligence knows who they are.”

He declined to elaborate.

Siddique and the protesters outside City Hall Tuesday said they were not paid by anyone. 

Councilmember Thomas said Whitmire’s rhetoric only adds fuel to fire and shuts down any real dialogue. 

“The mayor of the city, our chief leader, is othering them and extracting them and putting tags on them,” Thomas said. “You’re putting marks on people unnecessarily. I think what it sends out into the ether is that, in Houston, your voice isn’t welcome.”

In other City Council business Wednesday, council members confirmed Whitmire’s appointments of Thomas Muñoz as chief of the Houston Fire Department and J. Noe Diaz as chief of the Houston Police Department.

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