From Staff Reports
“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. My community is majority-minority, and they expect me to stand up for their representation. 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.”
–Rep. Nicole Collier
Several colleagues of Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier (D-Fort Worth) are tearing up their “permission slips” and joining her on the floor in solidarity.
When Republicans detained Rep. State Representative Nicole Collier for refusing police surveillance, they thought they’d broken our resolve.
Instead, these Texas House Democrats are staying all night on the House floor.
The fight for fair maps continues tomorrow.
Be there with us: txhdc.co/fightback
#txlege
On the floor tonight:
State Representative Rhetta Andrews Bowers
Rep. Penny Morales Shaw
Salman Bhojani
State Representative Nicole Collier
Gene Wu for State Representative 137
Representative Mihaela E. Plesa
Cassandra Garcia Hernandez
You can watch their remarks as they join Rep. Collier who has been detained on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives for the past more than 48 hours (at press time) for refusing to agree to 24-hour surveillance as a condition of being able to leave the capitol complex.
Watch live here:
Rep. Collier, a seven-term Democratic lawmaker and former chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, is refusing to sign a “permission slip” that would assign her a taxpayer-funded law enforcement escort required to follow her movements throughout the entire state, 24/7.
The permission slip requirement is the latest Republican tactic to monitor and control Democratic lawmakers following their successful quorum break that stalled Governor Abbott’s discriminatory redistricting plan and sparked a national movement. Republicans have completely closed the House galleries to the public, ensuring no Texans can witness Rep. Collier’s act of resistance firsthand, and have refused access to news cameras wishing to capture her protest.
Rep. Collier, who represents a majority-minority district in Fort Worth, sees this as a continuation of her resistance against Republicans’ discriminatory redistricting maps designed to silence minority voters.
“My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights,” said Rep. Collier. “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. My community is majority-minority, and they expect me to stand up for their representation. 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.”
Texas House Democrats are supporting Rep. Collier’s right to protest and call on Republican leadership to immediately cease this unprecedented detention of a sitting legislator and reopen the galleries to restore public access and transparency to legislative proceedings.
Rep. Vince Perez:
It was very cold spending on the House Floor! Rep. Vincent “Vince” Perez & I joined State Representative Nicole Collier in support of making #GoodTrouble! We know this is a #riggedredistricting process. Democrats may be a minority in the #txlege, but we are not giving up! Thanks for the support, standing with Texas House Democratic Caucus, and we have coffee!
Vice President Kamala Harris sent a message of support:
“You are those who history will reveal to have been heroes of this moment.”
The nation is watching Texas.
Texas Legislative Black Caucus released a statement:
Detaining one of the highest-ranking Black women in state politics is an unacceptable abuse of authority and a direct attack on democratic principles.
Our state deserves leaders who are respected for their service, not punished for their courage. Representative Collier should be freed from the House chamber immediately.
