Democrat Held HOSTAGE As Trump Locks Up Opponents
Dem Lawmaker in Texas was forced to stay in the Texas Capitol ALL NIGHT!
Democratic lawmakers finally made their way back to Texas this week after successfully outlasting Governor Greg Abbott’s special session that aimed to gerrymander Texas districts beyond recognition in favor of Republicans — but one Democrat is being forced to stay in the Texas House chamber.
Upon their arrival back into Texas, the 50 Democrats who bravely left their families to fight Republicans’ blatant attempt at cheating were told to sign a permission slip agreeing to have a Department of Public Safety escort at all times to ensure they didn’t leave the state again — Rep. Nicole Collier refused. In response, she was locked in the house chamber and forced to stay there overnight.
The state House reconvenes tomorrow morning, but Rep. Collier said she is planning to stay in the chamber until Dem lawmakers are no longer subject to constant surveillance.
"I guess I'm being stubborn, like they are. But I'm not signing the piece of paper to make them feel good so they can have something in their hand as evidence of their control," Rep. Collier said in an interview.
Rep. Collier represents a majority-minority district whose votes will be made meaningless by the GOP’s redistricting proposal, and is once again putting her wellbeing on the line to protect her constituents. Her fellow lawmakers have supported her by bringing in a mattress to sleep on, food, a steamer, and more to make her more comfortable on the House floor. After the livestream of the floor was taken down, Democratic House Chair Gene Wu brought in another one so Rep. Collier’s family can check in on her.
This is the kind of fight Dems need to be showing nationwide — from Gavin Newsom’s trolling online (that I’ve personally been obsessed with) to the courage of the Texas representatives that are taking real steps to fight for their constituents, it finally feels like Dems are fighting back against Trump’s authoritarian regime.
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That is clearly illegal coercion. Influencing a public servant or voter through coercion is a crime under Texas law. I don't know why Collier voted in favor of the chamber rules, which laid out conditions of a potential detainment if one failed to agree to the escort, but Rep. Nicole Collier needs to call her attorney. However, as she says, "I guess I'm being stubborn, like they are."
when they take Trump to jail, they need to take hot wheels along with him