The Ken Houston middle finger seen ‘round the world

An Oakland council member’s hand gesture throughout a gathering Tuesday has made nationwide headlines, gone viral on social media and dominated native political discourse.

Throughout a controversial council assembly about Flock surveillance cameras, Councilman Ken Houston – an ardent Flock supporter – appeared to close down public audio system by placing his raised center finger on his face.

The group within the room and on-line viewers of the assembly took word.

“You suppose we did not discover that you just simply unseated the viewers?” a public speaker on Zoom requested Houston.

The District 7 councilor regarded shocked, then amused, then apparently repeated the gesture.

We spoke with Houston on Thursday in regards to the incident. He had simply boarded a airplane to go to household over the vacations.

He claimed that he didn’t make the gesture on objective and that he usually rests his hand like that.

However he stated he does not care if folks suppose he did it deliberately. He stated he heard an viewers member name him an anti-Latino slur in the course of the rally.

“In the event that they wish to take into account that finger ‘eff you,’ take into account it ‘eff you,’” Houston stated. “It is so unbelievable that persons are going to make use of that one factor out of all of the issues I did in my first yr.”

Houston, 61, based the nonprofit Beautification Council 10 years in the past and was elected in November 2024 to symbolize Deep East Oakland after the district’s then-Rep. Treva Reid made a last-minute announcement that she wouldn’t run for re-election.

In an interview, Houston listed a few of his proudest moments from his first yr as an elected official, together with hiring previously incarcerated or homeless folks, first on the Beautification Council after which to work for his metropolis workplace. He stated he has helped encampment residents transfer to metropolis shelters and labored with Gov. Gavin Newsom. He additionally touted his Encampment Abatement Coverage, a proposal — itself fairly controversial — that will overhaul how the town responds to homeless encampments.

“Who would not need that success?” Houston stated. “So what if you wish to take the finger away from me? Take that finger and stick it up their ass.”

He is additionally landed in doubtlessly scorching water. This fall, Houston and Josh Rowan, then director of each Oakland Public Works and the Division of Transportation, traded ethics complaints in opposition to one another. Houston’s grievance in opposition to Rowan was dismissed. Rowan accused Houston of a “continued sample of interference, intimidation and misconduct.”

Insolent or unprofessional?

We had been definitely not the one journalists who inquired in regards to the gesture, which rapidly made headlines CBS News, KTVU, SFistthe New York PostAnd Hood line. A photograph of the second led to a “Vibe Report” on the Oakland Evaluate of Books, and the incident was the topic of a number of Reddit discussions criticized the councilor for his obvious disregard for voters.

A video of the center finger incident was shared by Wall Street monkeysa far-right X account with over 1 million followers, after which reposted by different political commentators. At the very least one account shared Houston’s workplace quantity and e-mail deal with, encouraging folks to file complaints.

Some posts characterised Houston as a part of the “Democratic supermajority” on the Oakland Metropolis Council, which is bent on controlling the general public. Nonetheless, the council isn’t a partisan physique; the eight members didn’t run as Democrats, Republicans or the rest. Many of those commentators additionally appeared to overlook that many of the opposition to Flock got here from the left. (The council in the end permitted the $2 million digicam contract on a 7-1 vote.)

Whether or not Houston flipped the hen on objective or not, his doubling down on the gesture is in keeping with the brash, in-your-face strategy to politics and conduct that his friends and the general public have observed.

Councilmember Carroll Fife advised CBS Information that she just lately spoke with Houston about performing extra professionally, worrying that the tenor of native discussions was starting to imitate President Donald Trump’s rhetoric.

From his first day on the council, Houston confirmed a novel fashion. He turned his inaugural deal with into an emotional efficiency, stepping from behind the council chamber podium and strolling throughout the ground, breaking down in tears as he praised present and former colleagues.

In a foreshadowing this week, Houston addressed the group.

“I am happy with this metropolis, I’ll struggle for this metropolis. And let me let you know one thing. I’ve no filter. None,” he stated on the time.

Houston advised The Oaklandside that his ardour and elegance had been partly what acquired him chosen.

“D7 voted for me as a result of they knew I would not apologize,” he stated.