Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier camped out on the state Home flooring in a single day after flatly refusing a Republican order to undergo Division of Public Security supervision.
“Members who have not been present until today, for whom arrest warrants were issued, will be granted written permission to leave only after agreeing to be released into the custody of a designated [Department of Public Safety] officer appointment,” Burrows acknowledged Monday, including that the officers would “ensure” Democrats return for the subsequent particular session, which begins Wednesday at 11 AM ET.
Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier, a Democrat from Fort Value, listens to Home Speaker Dustin Burrows announce the necessity for permission slips for Democratic state representatives to depart the Home Chamber in the course of the Home flooring session, on Aug. 18.
Civil arrest warrants stay “in force” for lawmakers who hadn’t returned with the remainder of the caucus, Burrows mentioned.
In essence, that turned dozens of state troopers, paid by taxpayers, into corridor screens for elected officers. Republicans, all the time boasting about being the social gathering of “law and order,” diminished regulation enforcement to chaperones for political opponents—aiming to push by way of a gerrymandered map.
Most Democrats reluctantly performed alongside, displaying reporters their “permission slips” whereas troopers adopted them by way of the Capitol. Nevertheless, Collier, representing a part of the Fort Value space, refused to relinquish her freedom of motion, successfully locking herself contained in the constructing.
“I have a right to resist, I have a right to oppose, just like my voters do,” she advised CBS through Zoom. “All the Democrats will be working together to get that legal record set so that we can take this fight to the court.”
Initially caught on the ground, Collier was later allowed into her workplace—however she couldn’t depart the Capitol except she submitted to state surveillance. Fellow Democrat Gene Wu, chair of the Home Democratic Caucus, stayed along with her, sharing images of their provides: dried peaches, freeze-dried grapes, popcorn, and ramen.
In a press release, Collier described her stand as based mostly on precept.
“My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights. 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,” she mentioned. “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.”
The Democratic caucus supported her, criticizing GOP management for making an attempt to “monitor and control” Democrats after their quorum break. In addition they accused Republicans of stopping the general public and press from witnessing Collier’s defiance.
Supporters for the returning Texas Democrats chant as members enter the Texas Capitol on Aug. 18.
Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke additionally supported Collier.
“A true hero, refusing to submit, fighting these fascists by herself if she has to,” he posted on social media.
Earlier Monday, dozens of Democrats obtained a hero’s welcome again into the chamber, with supporters cheering them. Their two-week walkout—spent in Democrat-led states like Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York—had denied Texas Gov. Greg Abbott a quorum and stalled his particular session.
In the meantime, the Home Choose Committee on Congressional Redistricting accepted the brand new GOP maps alongside social gathering traces, 12-8, on Monday night. The laws now strikes to the complete Home, which might vote as early as Wednesday. The maps would create 5 new Republican-leaning districts for the 2026 midterm elections, solidifying Texas as a key battleground within the nationwide redistricting struggle. If accepted, Democrats plan to problem the maps in courtroom.
The irony is placing. The GOP typically claims to be the defender of taxpayers and the enforcer of regulation and order. But right here they’re, losing public cash to show troopers into babysitters for political rivals. It isn’t regulation and order—it’s surveillance and intimidation.
