Texas Redistricting Standoff: Rep. Nicole Collier Defies Escort, Stays Overnight in Capitol

State Representative Nicole Collier (D-Fort Worth) spent Monday night, August 18, and much of Tuesday, August 19, on the Texas House floor, refusing a mandatory police escort imposed by Republican leadership. Her defiance comes as Democratic lawmakers return to the Capitol after a two-week walkout aimed at blocking a GOP-backed congressional redistricting plan.

Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) mandated round-the-clock police escorts for Democrats who participated in the walkout, asserting they must sign a permission slip to leave the Capitol. Rep. Collier, however, publicly declared her refusal to “sign away her dignity,” stating she would not comply with what she views as an attempt by Republicans to control her movements and monitor her with law enforcement.

The dramatic protest saw Collier sleeping at her desk, supported by fellow Democrats, including Rep. Gene Wu and Rep. Vince Perez, who stayed with her overnight. A livestream set up by the House Democratic Caucus captured the standoff, drawing tens of thousands of viewers. The order for police escorts is expected to expire once the controversial congressional map (House Bill 4) receives final passage later this week, a move Democrats strongly oppose as it seeks to strengthen the GOP’s U.S. House majority.

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