Demand Immediate Release of Rep. Collier and End Unconstitutional Surveillance

The recent actions taken against Representative Nicole Collier and other Democratic lawmakers in the Texas House are a direct assault on our democratic principles and must be immediately rectified. Rep. Collier, a duly elected representative from Fort Worth, has been effectively detained on the House floor for nearly 24 hours after refusing to submit to an unconstitutional police escort imposed by Republican leadership. This unprecedented move by Speaker Dustin Burrows to require around-the-clock police surveillance of lawmakers who participated in a legitimate protest against a partisan redistricting plan is not only a gross overreach of power but also a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundations of our representative democracy. The walkout by over two dozen Democratic lawmakers was a principled stand against a redistricting plan demanded by former President Trump, designed solely to artificially inflate the GOP's slim U.S. House majority in the upcoming midterm election. The imposition of police escorts on elected officials is a clear intimidation tactic and an infringement on their rights and duties as representatives of the people. Rep. Collier's refusal to sign away her dignity and submit to this surveillance is commendable and highlights the severity of this situation. The fact that up to 50,000 viewers have tuned into the House Democratic Caucus's livestream of this ordeal underscores the public's deep concern over these antidemocratic measures. I demand that you take immediate action to end this unconstitutional surveillance of lawmakers and release Rep. Collier from her de facto detention on the House floor. Furthermore, I urge you to publicly denounce these tactics and work towards a fair and transparent process for addressing redistricting concerns. The integrity of our democratic institutions and the rights of our elected representatives must be protected at all costs. This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of upholding the fundamental principles of our democracy. The eyes of Texas and the nation are upon you. Act now to restore faith in our legislative process and ensure that all representatives can fulfill their duties without intimidation or undue restriction.