Things in Texas are heating up after dozens of Democrats fled the state in protest. Now that some have returned, Republicans have consequently issued strict conditions for them… but one Black Democrat wasn’t having it, leaving her spending a solo sleepover on the House floor.
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Rep. Nicole Collier was one of many Democrats who left the state after President Donald Trump suggested Texas should redraw its U.S. House district maps in order to secure more Republican seats in Congress. Representatives in Texas were set to vote until the Democrats– the scarce minority– fled to blue states. The two-week protest was in effort to deny the quorum for voting on the redistricting plan, but that all ended this week.
In response to the protest, the Democrats have been subjected to $500-a-day fines and threats of criminal charges. Additionally, the dozens who fled are now required to have “permission slips” in order to leave and keep a police escort at all times, NBC News reported. Rep. Collier protested law enforcement officers from accompanying her out of the chamber, so she just stayed there.
“I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts,” a Monday (Aug. 18) statement from Collier read. “When I press that button to vote, I know these maps will harm my constituents — I won’t just go along quietly with their intimidation or their discrimination.”
The Congresswoman has spent 24 hours on the House floor, beginning after the chamber adjourned Monday afternoon. A few other representatives stayed overnight in support, and others provided Collier with food, water and even a bonnet for her hair.
The whole thing was also live-streamed on social media attracting over 50,000 viewers, the Texas Tribune reported. Collier spoke to NBC News saying, “In my heart, I don’t feel compelled to sign it.” She continued, “I’ll just sit here, I don’t know…I guess I’ll wait til Wednesday.” That’s when the House reconvenes.
As of Tuesday (Aug. 19), Collier has confirmed on Instagram she’s still on the House floor. “I don’t know how long I will be here,” the representative wrote in a statement to the Fort Worth Report. “Instead of DPS officers looking for pedophiles, they have been assigned to follow Democratic state representatives around only to ensure their return to the Capitol on Wednesday. I sure hope the public feels safe without those officers on beat.”
While Collier and other Democrats have returned to Texas, many are still absent. GOP Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said civil arrest warrants for those politicians “remain in force.”
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