Why Nicole Collier is sleeping on the state Capitol : NPR

Texas Republicans are on the verge of redrawing the state’s congressional districts for President Trump, who thinks the brand new maps would assist Republicans win 5 extra seats in subsequent 12 months’s midterm elections.

To attempt to stall the method, dozens of Texas Home Democrats left the state for 2 weeks, then got here again to the legislature on Monday.

Republican Home Speaker Dustin Burrows then ordered Democrats to signal a slip of paper, stating they might be given permission to go away the ground beneath custody of Texas legislation enforcement and beneath the situation that they return for Wednesday’s session.

When Fort Price Rep. Nicole Collier refused to signal, she was locked within the Home chamber, the place she stayed for 2 nights, giving interviews and taking a name from former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Texas Republicans insist their redistricting efforts are authorized and deny accusations from Democrats of racial gerrymandering.

In the meantime, different states have promised their very own partisan maps to attempt to tip the stability of the U.S. Home, the place President Trump’s agenda hinges on a slim margin.

California Democrats are transferring shortly to move their congressional map over the objections of Republicans in that state. That map, nevertheless, would require voter approval, as a result of the Golden State’s Structure requires that an impartial fee deal with redistricting.

NPR’s Morning Version spoke to Rep. Nicole Collier on Tuesday, after her first evening of sleeping at her desk on the Texas Home ground.

This interview has been edited for readability.

Interview highlights

Leila Fadel: I need to begin with that permission slip. The speaker of the Home, Dustin Burrows, a Republican, instructed you and your colleagues you may go away provided that you signal this permission slip and walked out with legislation enforcement following you, escorting you, and also you refused. Why did you refuse?

Rep. Nicole Collier: Effectively, I am not a legal. I’ve not completed something mistaken. I’ve exercised my constitutional proper to disclaim a quorum. And what they’ve requested is for members to conform to be launched into the custody of DPS. It is not simply an escort. It is “within the custody,” as if we now have dedicated some kind of crime, to meet their political theater. So I am not going to go together with that. I disagree. I oppose strongly. It simply did not sit effectively with me. And I am fed up. I am refusing to do precisely what they need.

Fadel: You have been locked within the chamber whenever you refused. Had been you anticipating that?

Collier: I am nonetheless locked within the chamber. I am not shocked, however I am disillusioned, as a result of you do not have to do this stuff. The quorum has been restored. I got here right here voluntarily. I’ve the correct to make use of my voice and my speech of resistance.

Fadel: You’ve got stated just a few instances since this occurred that that is authoritarian. Inform me why.

Collier: Effectively, I imply, it simply is an instance of the lengths that Republicans will go to get what they need, locking members within the chamber who do not comply. You already know, this isn’t what a free democracy does. You may have a proper to problem authorities. And whenever you begin silencing the voices of these individuals who disagree, then we’re transferring additional away. And we have to place a cease to it. We have to take a stand and shield the freedoms that we now have, as a result of earlier than we all know it, we can’t have any freedoms to defend.

Fadel: You posted a photograph of your self, reclined at your desk, in a bonnet and an eye fixed masks. How did you sleep?

Collier: I slept. I used to be capable of get some sleep on the ground in my chair. And the lights don’t reduce off on this constructing, on this place. So it was very vivid. However, you already know, with all this DPS right here, I form of felt protected.

Fadel: There will probably be a vote. What occurs then?

Collier: You already know, it is very disappointing that Republicans have [shown] their hand and perhaps they did it on function. They’ve proven us that they need to do Trump’s bidding first. They do not need to put the flood victims and the folks first. They need to do what Trump has instructed them to do. So it is very disappointing. We’re able to have a battle on the ground when it comes to contesting these maps and exposing the dangerous impression that they may have on communities of colour. As soon as we end this ground battle, we’ll take it to the courts.

Fadel: Now, California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for his personal partisan redistricting plan, saying if Texas goes to do it. Then we will should do it, too. You fled the state to cease this sort of redistricting. Does this now begin a catastrophic battle between the 2 events that would harm the democratic course of?

Collier: Pay attention, you already know what? There was a time the place you’d take the excessive highway, however that top highway has crumbled. We’re on the grime highway and we will meet them within the grime. That is like Governor Newsom stated. We’ll battle fireplace with fireplace. We have to be prepared to reply accordingly. We’ll rebuild that top highway. However proper now, we’re within the grime and we have to roll up our sleeves and get soiled.