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Open Carry: Fifth Ward event postponed
By Craig Hlavaty | August 14, 2014 | Updated: August 14, 2014 11:04pm
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Photo By Houston ChronicleWIth guns in hand, a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, assembled at City Hall before walking through downtown carrying their guns as part of a rally Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open carry of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleJr. Velez, 21, puts his arm around his little brother while walking with his AR-15 rifle down Bagby, as they joined a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, as part of a rally to educate people about local gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleJr. Velez, 21, puts his arm around his little brother while walking with his AR-15 rifle down Bagby, as they joined a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, as part of a rally to educate people about local gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleA man named Houston waits for his bus as a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, walk down Bagby Street during a rally to educate people about local gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "To be honest with you I personally don't promote gun violence or guns period. If you've got weapons use your hands," Houston said. "Use sticks and stones if you have to . Bullets take too many lives, for no reason." "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleA man waits for his bus as a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, walk down Travis Street during a rally to educate people about local gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleBibin Thomas, 27, of Missouri City holds up his AR-15 rifle as he joined a group of about 25 people with the pro-gun rights organization, Come and Take it Houston, as they assembled at City Hall and walked through downtown carrying their guns as part of a rally Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleAfter walking with their guns through downtown as part of a pro-gun rally, the group of about 25 people with the organization, Come and Take it Houston, ate lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they said was a gun-friendly establishment Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-orginizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleAfter walking with their guns through downtown as part of a pro-gun rally, the group of about 25 people with the organization, Come and Take it Houston, ate lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they said was a gun-friendly establishment Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-orginizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleAfter walking with their guns through downtown as part of a pro-gun rally, the group of about 25 people with the organization, Come and Take it Houston, ate lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they said was a gun-friendly establishment Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-orginizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleAfter walking with their guns through downtown as part of a pro-gun rally, the group of about 25 people with the organization, Come and Take it Houston, ate lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they said was a gun-friendly establishment Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-orginizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleAfter walking with their guns through downtown as part of a pro-gun rally, Bibin Thomis, 27, left, of Missouri City and a group of about 25 people with the organization, Come and Take it Houston, ate lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they said was a gun-friendly establishment Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-orginizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleOscar Garza, 29, of Houston waits holding his AR-15 rifle as he joined a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, assembled at City Hall before walking through downtown carrying their guns as part of their rally Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "The idea is to show people their rights and it's a way to educate them," Garza said. "The best gun safety is education. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleJennifer Kroll, 26, of Houston, wears her 20-gauge shotgun as she joined a group of about 25 people with the pro-gun rights organization, Come and Take it Houston, assembled at City Hall and walked through downtown carrying their guns as part of a rally Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleA plastic straw is inserted into the chamber of Ed Aldredge's AR-15 rifle to note there are no rounds in the chamber, as he joined a group of about 25 people with the pro-gun rights organization, Come and Take it Houston, assembled at City Hall and walked through downtown carrying their guns as part of a rally Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleNeil Darlington from Chester, England watched with his 11-month-old daughter Chrystal, as a group of about 25 people with the organization pro-gun rights organization, Come and Take it Houston, walked through downtown carrying their guns as part of a rally to educate people about gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. âÃúTo walk the streets and see people with shotguns and ammo is a bit different,âÃù Darlington said. âÃúItâÃôs a completely different culture. We are use to seeing police with guns, but not that.âÃù "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleCyclist watch a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, walk down Bagby Street during a rally to educate people about local gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleDavid Wakat, 23, from LaPorte, gets a photograph of the Come and Take it Houston, a pro-gun rights organization, in front of HPD headquarters as they walked down Travis Street during their rally to educate the public about gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Houston ChronicleAfter walking through downtown as part of a pro-gun rally, Ed Aldredge, and a group of about 25 people with the organization, Come and Take it Houston, ate lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they said was a gun-friendly establishment Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-orginizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open cary of long arms like rifles and shotguns and we want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
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Photo By Associated PressKory Watkins, coordinator for Open Carry Tarrant County poses for a portrait holding his Romanian AK 47, Thursday, May 29, 2014, in Haltom City, Texas. North Texas gun rights advocates are suing the city of Arlington for amending an ordinance that they claim is discriminatory and infringes upon free speech rights, in the latest sign of growing tensions among gun activists and government forces in Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Photo By Associated PressKory Watkins, coordinator for Open Carry Tarrant County carries his Romanian AK47 over his back as he talks with passerby's at a busy road intersection during a group demonstration, Thursday, May 29, 2014, in Haltom City, Texas. North Texas gun rights advocates are suing the city of Arlington for amending an ordinance that they claim is discriminatory and infringes upon free speech rights, in the latest sign of growing tensions among gun activists and government forces in Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Photo By SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWSJohn Moltzer, of Robinson, waits for the "Come and Take It" rally to begin at the Alamo on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013.
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Photo By Associated PressMembers of the pro-gun organization Come and Take it Houston walk down Travis Street armed with their guns as part of a rally to educate people about local gun laws Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open carry of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime." (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Johnny Hanson)
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Photo By Associated PressEd Aldredge of Sugar Land, Texas, checks to make sure he doesn't have a round in the chamber of his AR-15 rifle, next to his son, Austin, 11, who was holding his .22 caliber rifle as they join a group of about 25 people with the gun rights organization Come and Take it Houston for a rally at City Hall in Houston Thursday, July 4, 2013(AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Johnny Hanson)
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Photo By Associated PressMembers of the gun rights group Come and Take it Houston get lunch at Tony's BBQ & Steak House, which they say is a gun-friendly establishment, after walking with their guns through downtown Houston as part of a pro-gun rally on Thursday, July 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Johnny Hanson)
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Photo By Associated PressGun rights advocates meet for an âOpen Carryâ walk, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in the parking lot of the Academy Sports & Outdoors in Conroe, Texas. The group walked to the North Loop 336 West overpass with âlong gunsâ and a few signs to show support for legalizing open carry of a handgun for law-abiding throughout Texas. (AP Photo/Conroe Courier, Ana Ramirez)
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Photo By San Antonio Express-NewsFlags fly at the Come And Take It San Antonio pro-gun rally on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Several hundred pro-gun owners displayed their rifles and long arms at a rally on the grounds of the Alamo. The group later marched to Travis Park where the event concluded. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)
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Photo By San Antonio Express-NewsA gun owner and his wife leave a rally at Travis Park as part of the Come And Take It San Antonio pro-gun rally on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Several hundred pro-gun owners displayed their rifles and long arms at a rally on the grounds of the Alamo. The group later marched to Travis Park where the event concluded. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)
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Photo By San Antonio Express-NewsGun owners march toward Travis Park as part of the Come And Take It San Antonio pro-gun rally on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Several hundred pro-gun owners displayed their rifles and long arms at a rally on the grounds of the Alamo. The group later marched to Travis Park where the event concluded. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)
Update: In a news release emailed to the Houston Chronicle late Thursday, Open Carry Texas says the planned event in Fifth Ward this weekend has been postponed indefinitely.
"It became obvious over the past few days that certain individuals in the area were intentionally pitting us against the community," the pro-gun group says in the statement. The group met with community leaders, including activist Quanell X, on Wednesday.
Previous report:
Last night representatives from the Fifth Ward community, Quanell X, and the Open Carry Texas delegation met to discuss this weekend’s upcoming demonstration by the pro-gun group.
A KPRC-TV report from Wednesday's meeting shows the two sides getting into a heated exchange outside the Fifth Ward Neighborhood Civic Club, close to where Open Carry Texas plans on demonstrating for two hours on Saturday afternoon at the corner of Lyons Avenue and Lockwood.
Activist Quanell X raised eyebrows by being flanked by members of the New Black Panther Party who themselves were armed with assault rifles. At one point during the KPRC-TV report the Open Carry Texas representatives were called “insurgents” by the New Black Panther for coming into their neighborhood.
The whole meeting lasted less than an hour before it was adjourned.
“The emotions were so high that it was time to go home,” Quanell X said on Thursday.
Officials from the Houston Police Department were on site to make sure that the discussions, didn’t devolve into physical violence. They told both sides that on Saturday they will be kept separate and that no intermingling will be allowed. Neither group will be allowed on the streets either to hinder traffic in the area.
Open Carry Texas’ leader C.J. Grisham said Thursday that he left the meeting with a bad taste in his mouth.
“They wanted to make this a racial issue and talk over us. They were big on accusations and not much else,” Grisham says.
He claims that in private discussions leading up to the event that Quanell X and company wanted to talk to the group openly to find out their exact point of view and were willing to come with an open mind. Grisham says that when the cameras showed up things changed.
Quanell X says that is not true and that he voiced his misgivings to Open Carry Texas member David Amad before the two groups even sat down on Wednesday.
“I told him that emotions would run very high on the outset and that there were better ways to come into our community,” Quanell X says.
“I would never tell a black man or anyone that he is not welcome in any part of this country, but that’s what they did to us,” Grisham says.
“He needs to do some history homework. He will learn and see why black people don’t like white men coming to the Fifth Ward,” said Quanell X on Thursday. He points to a history of racial unrest in the area dating back decades, of night riders and blacks being told to get inside before sundown.
He says that the New Black Panthers do in fact teach CHL classes once every three months and teach their members and the surrounding communities about how to properly open carry.
“We didn’t bring any firearms as we didn’t want to feel intimidating,” says Grisham. He did notice later that members of the New Black Panther Party on site were holding AK-47s and AR-15s. He personally doesn’t understand the difference between the Black Panthers carrying rifles and Open Carry Texas carrying rifles.
“It sends a very confusing message I think,” Grisham added.
“We were open carrying for years before they were,” Quanell X says. He points to past demonstrations where his group openly carried assault rifles. His personal security detail also openly carries firearms.
Did you the two groups have any common ground last night?
None at all, Quanell X says. As for how Open Carry Texas could have gone about the situation, he offered up an alternative scenario.
“They could have first found people in the community that believe in the Second Amendment and sit down with them and see how they can help each other,” Quanell X says. Reading between the lines he sees it as an invasion.
“The way they are doing this, they aren’t going to get a warm welcome,” he added.
I’m very suspicious of their motive for coming
HPD spokesman Kese Smith says that although the department cannot discuss tactics or numbers, they did meet with both sides to hash out a plan for Saturday.
“We met with both sides and we will monitor the scene as we do all such situations like this,” Smith said.