Police violence thrives when survivors can’t access justice. It grows in the silence of closed doors, in the isolation of people told their pain doesn’t count, and in a legal system that only defends “perfect victims.”
But everyone who experiences police violence deserves legal representation—no exceptions, no conditions.
We at Peoples’ Counsel are those advocates. We have been working to build a safer and more just Houston for over two years, but we took a leap and launched our own organization in 2025 in order to bridge the gap between the legal profession and communities fighting police violence.
We could not be prouder of how our year unfolded. Here, we share and celebrate what we achieved with your support.
YEAR-ROUND:
PC litigates five federal civil rights lawsuits on behalf of survivors of police violence and in coordination with movement builders.
YEAR-ROUND:
PC team provides daily support and legal resources to over 60 survivors of police violence through our Houston Police Accountability Hotline.
JAN 2025:
PC team files new lawsuit against HPD for assaulting and tasing a disabled man, Mr. Terrence Holland, during a traffic stop.
APRIL 2025:
Peoples’ Counsel defeats qualified immunity in McWashington v. Rodgers, ensuring client can hold police officers accountable for escalating a traffic stop into a brutal police K9 attack.
DEC 2025:
Peoples’ Counsel defeats qualified immunity a second time in Thomas v. Bruss, ensuring client can hold police accountable at trial for attacking him with a police dog while he was prone and unarmed.
MAY 2025:
After persistent advocacy and partnership with community organizing partners, PC won a prohibition on traffic stop quotas in Houston, secured via city ordinance.
AUG 2025:
Alongside community organizing partners, the PC team helped expand HART, the Harris County Mental Health Alternative Response Program, to serve the entire County.
OCT 2025:
The PC team joined community groups in celebrating 2 years of growth and influence with RISE Houston: our abolitionist campaign fighting to Re-Imagine Safety for Everyone and end police violence.
NOV 2025:
The PC team launched People’s Ed: a political education series for all people and peoples. Our first three issues focus on activist safety and security in these repressive times.
