Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo claimed she was physically shoved and threatened with arrest by security staff at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, in a now-deleted Facebook post.
Hidalgo’s allegation sparked a public dispute after the Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU) posted a satirical comic referencing the incident.
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Judge Hidalgo released a lengthy post on Facebook describing what she says happened Tuesday night, when she attended the Megan Moroney concert at NRG with several guests. But that post was later deleted.
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However, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials said in a statement that Hidalgo and a group tried to access the dirt area without valid tickets and they were directed them back to their original seating.
In the since-deleted Facebook post, Hidalgo explained that she serves as the Ex-Officio Director because of her political position as County Judge.
However, she said she was told by security that the director of the rodeo had made a change that prevented her from having access.
“The head of Security for the entire rodeo was also there blocking us,” she said in the post.
Hidalgo said when she disputed the order and waited to talk to the director, she was “physically shoved and threatened with arrest” by security.
“They took to physically grabbing and pushing the County Executive of the third largest county in the nation,” she continued.
When the director arrived, Hidalgo said officials would not let her find witnesses to the alleged shoving, and she was asked to leave the stadium. Hidalgo said she had to leave her guests “to watch the concert elsewhere.” She added that she has footage of officials escorting two children in her entourage out as well.
Hidalgo also alleged that the security personnel were influenced by political differences and sexism in their efforts to “keep a county leader out.”
“If it had been a different county executive, a man, I’m willing to bet nobody would’ve been shoved... and things would’ve been just fine.”
But Rodeo officials offered this statement when asked about the Hidalgo situation:
“On March 10, during the sold-out Megan Moroney concert, Judge Lina Hidalgo attempted to access the dirt area without a valid chute seat ticket. Additionally, she attempted to bring several guests, also without chute seat tickets. Rodeo security advised that dirt access is limited to chute seat ticket holders only, a premium ticket priced at $425 and the group was directed back to their ticketed seating.”
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Judge Hidalgo Responds to HLSR With Letter
Wednesday evening, Lina Hidalgo released a two-page letter addressed to Pat Mann Phillips and Chris Boleman.
In the new letter, Hidalgo expanded on her account of the confrontation, reiterating her allegations that she was grabbed, shoved, and threatened.
She said she was denied access to the “dirt” area because she did not have a wristband — something she said surprised her because she has never needed one in the past.
“I have always been allowed on the dirt based on the county’s relationship with the rodeo, regardless of wristband,” Hidalgo wrote in the letter. “Nobody has ever told me I needed a special pass to access the dirt.”
She also recounted a moment when a young girl in her group was allegedly heckled by a man in the crowd. When the child’s mother asked rodeo officials to intervene, Hidalgo wrote that they responded, “Well, I told you to leave” — a request Hidalgo said had never previously been made.
“I felt disrespected, threatened and physically unsafe — as did my guests and the kids,” Hidalgo wrote. “While I appreciate the work that the rodeo staff and volunteers do to manage such a large event, I cannot be complacent.”
Hidalgo also echoed sentiments from her earlier social media post, suggesting the alleged treatment may have been influenced by her ethnicity, gender, and political standing.
“These days, not only are we fighting a war abroad, but some people, mostly white men, have felt emboldened to treat others, particularly Hispanics, with physical force,” Hidalgo wrote. “I don’t travel without my passport anymore. Many of us do, especially those of us who are not white-passing.”
Hidalgo also suggested she may avoid the area in the future, citing concerns about her safety.
“I will not go near that area again,” she wrote. “But I have never felt so unempowered as a woman as I did yesterday.”
Houston Police Officers’ Union Reacts
The situation was allegedly referenced in a Facebook post by the Houston Police Officers’ Union.
The post was captioned saying, “Disclaimer: Satire. Any resemblance to real persons, actual events from last night, elected officials, or people who believe the rules don’t apply to them is purely coincidental.”
The post featured comic depicting a woman resembling Judge Hidalgo — with an “I’m the County Judge” speech bubble for good measure — being led away from the rodeo by an officer. The comic was titled, “The Face You Make When You Get Kicked Out of the Rodeo.”
KPRC 2 has reached out to Judge Hidalgo’s Office for comment on the situation and the HPOU post. We’ll provide updates when we hear back.