Houston DSA’s Abolition Working Group fights for the abolition of policing and prisons. In solidarity with organizations like the Houston Abolitionist Collective, we wage campaigns to abolish the Houston Police Department, close Harris County Jail, and stand in solidarity with Black communities, Latinx communities, and all those affected by policing and incarceration.
Our current Neighbors Against Spying Campaign demands that the Houston and Harris County law enforcement stop using surveillance technology to police our communities. Surveillance allows police to invade residents’ privacy and control who belongs in public space. Through partnerships with companies like Shotspotter Technologies and Amazon-owned Ring, Houston Police can use video and audio surveillance to police workers and communities of color.
Want to stay up to date with our current campaign? Sign the petition to demand Houston and Harris County to cancel their Shotspotter contracts.
- Find more talking points to help #StopShotspotter
- Learn more about HPD’s partnership with Amazon Ring
- Sign the petition to end HPD’s partnership with Amazon Ring
Join the Spy Hunt!
Starting in 2020, HPD began deploying Shotspotter surveillance devices in the Sunnyside and OST areas as part of a pilot program with Shotspotter Technologies, Inc. Studies have shown that Shotspotter devices do not reduce gun violence and cost millions in the process. We’re mapping the locations of Shotspotter devices to expose HPD surveillance and raise awareness about the hidden forms of policing in predominantly Black neighborhoods in Houston.
See the map of known locations of Shotspotter devices.
See a Shotspotter device in your neighborhood? Let us know through our public submission form.
Get involved
The Abolition Working Group meets on the third Thursday of every month. We are a member of the Houston Abolitionist Collective and actively support overall efforts to abolish policing, jails, prisons, and detention centers. Email abolition@houstondsa.org to get involved or attend our monthly meetings.