WEBVTT - Texas Rep held HOSTAGE on the House Floor! | Angela Rye SoloPod 0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:03.640 Native Land Pod is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership 0:00:03.640 --> 0:00:05.080 with Reason Choice Media. 0:00:05.559 --> 0:00:10.760 Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Hello, And I 0:00:10.840 --> 0:00:12.560 was on mute the whole time I was talking. 0:00:13.200 --> 0:00:14.880 That's all right, Angela House. 0:00:14.800 --> 0:00:15.440 Saying you all. 0:00:15.480 --> 0:00:17.759 We were going to be joined by state represented in 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:20.959 the Cole call Yer, who is joining us live from 0:00:21.120 --> 0:00:24.360 the House floor of Texas. As you can see, she 0:00:24.720 --> 0:00:28.440 is being held hostage essentially by the Texas Department of 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:32.400 Public Safety. She represents District ninety five. Nicole, Thank you 0:00:32.400 --> 0:00:34.960 so much for joining us. Please tell us what is happening. 0:00:34.960 --> 0:00:38.000 Why are you the sole member remaining on the House floor. 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:38.880 How did we get here? 0:00:39.200 --> 0:00:42.040 So, Angela, thank you for having me on. You know, 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:44.240 when I start woke up this morning, it was my 0:00:44.320 --> 0:00:47.839 intent to return to the Capitol with my colleagues in 0:00:47.920 --> 0:00:52.600 the House, the Democrats, because we were successful in getting 0:00:52.600 --> 0:00:57.800 California to agree to file maps that would counter or 0:00:57.960 --> 0:01:02.560 neutralize the five seats that Trump asked Abbott, our governor 0:01:02.600 --> 0:01:07.440 to pass. So we came back to Texas to continue 0:01:07.440 --> 0:01:11.280 to fight. What that fight looked like, I didn't know 0:01:11.400 --> 0:01:15.120 at the time, but when we got here there was 0:01:15.120 --> 0:01:17.199 a call in the house, meaning that you can't leave 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:20.839 the floor unless you get a permission slip to leave, 0:01:21.760 --> 0:01:22.759 like you're in high school. 0:01:24.120 --> 0:01:27.119 And so what the speaker did was say. 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:30.399 That he said that anybody who wants to leave the 0:01:30.440 --> 0:01:35.280 floor had to get a permission slip and be agreed 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:39.880 to be followed by a DPS officer to ensure your return. 0:01:40.360 --> 0:01:43.760 Our return on Wednesday at ten am at the time. 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:49.600 In this moment, I disagree in my heart it's wrong. 0:01:49.840 --> 0:01:53.280 This is so wrong. These maps are wrong. This is wrong, 0:01:53.600 --> 0:01:57.520 and this is how I am resisting. I know that 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:00.560 it takes it only takes seventy six votes to pass 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:03.720 a bill. Here we only have sixty two Democrats, so 0:02:03.800 --> 0:02:06.080 we know we're not going to win when it comes 0:02:06.120 --> 0:02:14.000 down to voting. But I just can't stand by. In 0:02:14.080 --> 0:02:17.120 my heart, this is wrong, and this is my way 0:02:17.480 --> 0:02:24.480 of trying to express my resistance. I didn't intend to 0:02:24.480 --> 0:02:26.640 do this. In fact, I'm not even prepared. I just 0:02:27.120 --> 0:02:30.200 know that I'm here right now in this moment, and 0:02:30.880 --> 0:02:34.040 I'm against it. And they know no bounds when it 0:02:34.080 --> 0:02:38.079 comes to what they want. They want these maps so bad. 0:02:38.720 --> 0:02:41.440 We were told that they're going to pass these maps 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:44.160 today we just got back restored Quorm. 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:44.920 It was restored. 0:02:44.960 --> 0:02:47.720 I wasn't part of that initial restoration because I refuse 0:02:47.840 --> 0:02:50.920 to help them get to any closer to what they want. 0:02:51.919 --> 0:02:55.359 But because they have the numbers now, they have the 0:02:55.440 --> 0:02:59.720 korum today at five o'clock, in less than fifteen minutes, 0:03:00.160 --> 0:03:03.320 going to pass these maps and they'll probably be up 0:03:03.360 --> 0:03:06.080 on the House for a vote for the full House 0:03:06.080 --> 0:03:07.600 to vote on by Wednesday. 0:03:09.160 --> 0:03:12.360 And what do you say to the folks who would say, 0:03:13.280 --> 0:03:15.840 you know, this is something that you walked into right 0:03:15.880 --> 0:03:18.240 you were you were safer maybe when you were out 0:03:18.280 --> 0:03:21.400 of Texas, and now because you went back to Texas, 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:25.160 you know that the governor was talking about creating unlawful 0:03:25.280 --> 0:03:28.320 warrants to go and get you all. So when they 0:03:28.360 --> 0:03:30.760 say what would you expect when you go back to 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:33.840 the House floor, what would you have expected? 0:03:34.040 --> 0:03:34.800 What do you say to. 0:03:34.760 --> 0:03:37.880 That, Well, it's not that I didn't expect them to 0:03:38.240 --> 0:03:40.800 keep the call on the House, of course, but that 0:03:40.840 --> 0:03:44.040 doesn't mean that I have to agree to it. I 0:03:44.120 --> 0:03:47.080 knew that they were going to, you know, pass the maps, 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:51.600 but that doesn't mean that I just go along. I 0:03:51.600 --> 0:03:55.920 mean I want them to know my constituents elected me 0:03:56.040 --> 0:04:00.440 to be a fighter, and this is how I am fighting. 0:04:01.960 --> 0:04:06.360 I'm not I'm not I'm not surprised so much, but 0:04:07.040 --> 0:04:10.200 I'm disappointed. I wish more Democrats would have stayed with me, 0:04:10.920 --> 0:04:17.479 uh and resisted, because that's a way to show. But 0:04:17.760 --> 0:04:20.320 I'm getting a lot of support from my colleagues on this. 0:04:21.600 --> 0:04:23.560 When you're saying you wish they would have stayed with you, 0:04:23.640 --> 0:04:25.560 are you saying you wish that they wouldn't have agreed 0:04:25.600 --> 0:04:29.040 to the parole officer? In e fact, having a DPS 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:32.479 member follow them. The permission slip that they had to 0:04:32.480 --> 0:04:34.800 get signed meant that a DPS officer followed them. 0:04:34.839 --> 0:04:35.520 Is that what you mean? 0:04:36.000 --> 0:04:38.400 Well, I'm just surprised nobody else thought to like refuse 0:04:38.480 --> 0:04:39.599 to sign. I mean, why not? 0:04:40.120 --> 0:04:43.080 Were there other members of the Texas Black Caucus who 0:04:43.200 --> 0:04:44.960 signed the permission slip? 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:49.039 Well, it's my understanding that those who did come all sign. 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:50.080 That's why they're not here. 0:04:51.120 --> 0:04:54.719 How many how many Black legislators. 0:04:54.000 --> 0:04:59.000 Returned, I'm not sure how many return I know Representatives 0:04:59.760 --> 0:05:02.919 I Davis did not return to the floor. Representive Gjilanda 0:05:02.960 --> 0:05:07.000 Jones did not return to the floor. Representative Ron Reynolds 0:05:07.040 --> 0:05:10.880 did not return to the floor. Representative Harold Dutton and 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:15.800 Charlene Johnson Ward Lauren Simmons, those representatives, they did not 0:05:15.880 --> 0:05:16.600 come to the floor. 0:05:17.680 --> 0:05:21.000 What made you come to the floor today, Well, there were. 0:05:20.880 --> 0:05:25.440 Some rules that could have been passed if they didn't 0:05:25.480 --> 0:05:27.760 have enough Democrats on the floor to fight against it. 0:05:28.000 --> 0:05:30.520 So we had a certain number that we needed and 0:05:30.680 --> 0:05:34.039 I was coming to fight to oppose and resist any 0:05:34.080 --> 0:05:37.120 type of rule changes, but we needed a certain number 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:39.240 of Democrats to be on the floor for that, and 0:05:39.279 --> 0:05:43.880 that's what I was coming back for, to prevent the 0:05:44.000 --> 0:05:48.960 passage or the easy passage of changing of the rules 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:49.599 in the House. 0:05:50.040 --> 0:05:52.760 What were the rule changes that they were try attempting 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:53.440 to pass today. 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:56.080 Well, I mean, you have to have a bill to 0:05:56.120 --> 0:05:58.640 lay out for about twenty four hours before you could 0:05:58.680 --> 0:06:00.640 take it up on the floor, and so there was 0:06:00.640 --> 0:06:04.599 a possibility that they could have suspended the constitutional rules 0:06:04.640 --> 0:06:08.679 to do that and brought the bill up tomorrow morning 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:12.320 or you know, even later today. But we were able 0:06:12.360 --> 0:06:16.360 to hold that and you know, prevent that from happening 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:19.280 because we had sufficient numbers. So that's what I came 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:21.760 back for. That was the way that we fought there. 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:25.719 But of course they have a lot of things that 0:06:25.720 --> 0:06:28.640 they can do because they have the votes, and we 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:33.120 need more people to vote so that we can have 0:06:33.480 --> 0:06:36.720 better outcomes for us. But this is my way of saying, no. 0:06:38.000 --> 0:06:41.200 Where do you anticipate happening? So you didn't sign the 0:06:41.200 --> 0:06:46.080 permission slip to have a DPS officer accompany you, Where 0:06:46.080 --> 0:06:47.800 do you go from here? How long do you think 0:06:47.800 --> 0:06:51.200 you'll be on the house floor? And what happens if 0:06:51.240 --> 0:06:55.279 you defy that structure and you leave anyway? 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:56.080 What happens? 0:06:56.600 --> 0:07:00.000 So we're set to come back Wednesday morning at ten am. 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:01.960 That's the next time the House is going to convene. 0:07:02.320 --> 0:07:06.200 I anticipate that's when how long I'll be here unless 0:07:06.240 --> 0:07:09.920 there's some change. I know that there's some lawyers, lawyers 0:07:09.960 --> 0:07:13.720 working on a court order to have me released, so 0:07:13.840 --> 0:07:17.800 to speak. So it's at least till Wednesday. And what 0:07:17.920 --> 0:07:19.040 was your last question? 0:07:19.160 --> 0:07:19.440 After that? 0:07:19.560 --> 0:07:23.440 I'm sorry, well, and what do you I'll change it? Actually, 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:26.360 what do you anticipate happening between now and then? If 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:30.640 you were to leave without signing that permission slip? 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:31.560 What happens? 0:07:32.000 --> 0:07:34.400 Could be subject to arrest? Yes, absolutely, I could be 0:07:34.400 --> 0:07:36.480 subject to arrest. In fact, I did ask the DPS 0:07:36.520 --> 0:07:38.560 officer if I was free to leave, and I was 0:07:38.560 --> 0:07:41.520 told that I was not unless I signed the permission 0:07:41.560 --> 0:07:46.360 slip that would allow a DPS officer allowed me to 0:07:46.360 --> 0:07:49.520 be released into the custody of a DPS officer. I'm 0:07:49.520 --> 0:07:52.040 not a criminal. I didn't do anything wrong. I have 0:07:52.240 --> 0:07:57.400 a right to deny quorum. I have a right to resist. 0:07:57.680 --> 0:08:00.600 Every one of us have a right to resist peacefully. 0:08:01.120 --> 0:08:04.080 And when you see something that's wrong, you got to 0:08:04.120 --> 0:08:07.560 stand up to it. We cannot in this state, in 0:08:07.600 --> 0:08:10.440 this world, allow people to. 0:08:12.240 --> 0:08:14.280 Just roll over us. So I mean, we've got to. 0:08:14.680 --> 0:08:18.480 Display some form of resistance because if we don't, then 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:22.880 we'll wake up and things will be so different and 0:08:22.920 --> 0:08:25.480 we won't have the ability to even use our voice. 0:08:25.920 --> 0:08:29.080 So we've got to take a stand while we can. 0:08:30.160 --> 0:08:32.040 Well, And let me ask you this, because I think 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:35.040 this is something that I'm very curious about. I was 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:37.080 one of the people saying I didn't think you all 0:08:37.080 --> 0:08:37.800 should go back. 0:08:38.679 --> 0:08:41.480 I anticipated that they would go. 0:08:41.440 --> 0:08:44.080 Above the law, beyond the law, all the ways that 0:08:44.120 --> 0:08:48.080 we've seen vigilantes operate throughout American history. Right, I knew 0:08:48.120 --> 0:08:49.880 that they were going to target you all the ways 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:54.000 that are unprecedented. And are you experiencing or feeling any 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:58.000 regret at coming back home to face this kind of 0:08:58.040 --> 0:09:01.280 madness I think, which is almost worse than which experience leaving. 0:09:02.120 --> 0:09:04.840 No, I don't regret coming back because we have to 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:07.559 set the record, get a legal record for the fight 0:09:08.720 --> 0:09:10.959 if you don't. In order to deny quorum, you need 0:09:11.040 --> 0:09:13.000 to make sure that there's less than one hundred. They 0:09:13.000 --> 0:09:16.400 were two members away from getting one hundred, so it 0:09:16.440 --> 0:09:19.280 was bound to happen. So there's no reason for me 0:09:19.440 --> 0:09:21.720 not to show up when they have a quorum. And 0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:24.520 so I showed up once a quorum was established, and 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:27.600 I came here to fight, and I came here to 0:09:27.920 --> 0:09:30.640 you know, you know, do as much as I can 0:09:30.720 --> 0:09:34.880 in terms of trying to amend the bill, deny the bill, whatever. 0:09:35.679 --> 0:09:38.960 But no, I don't regret coming back because they have 0:09:39.040 --> 0:09:42.280 a quorum and things are going to continue on with 0:09:42.480 --> 0:09:46.400 or without that member. So I'd rather be here letting 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:50.120 them know where I stand and how I feel about 0:09:50.160 --> 0:09:54.800 this racist gerrymandered map that they have set. 0:09:54.840 --> 0:09:58.840 We're two blacks. There's going to be two black blacks. 0:09:58.559 --> 0:10:00.960 That will lose their seat so and then they're trying 0:10:01.000 --> 0:10:03.680 to pit the black and brown people. So in my area, 0:10:03.720 --> 0:10:07.360 I represent an area in Arrant County and Congressman VC 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:08.880 has Arrant County and he has a little bit of 0:10:08.920 --> 0:10:11.920 Dallas County. His seat is on the chopping block, and 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:15.840 so what they intend to do is pit him against Latino. 0:10:16.480 --> 0:10:19.719 And that's the way to drive a wedge into our communities. 0:10:19.760 --> 0:10:22.960 The momentum that we're building together as the black and 0:10:23.000 --> 0:10:27.160 brown people. They just try to find a way to 0:10:27.240 --> 0:10:29.760 drive a wedge into that and divide us. But we 0:10:29.800 --> 0:10:32.760 are keeping it together because we know that this is 0:10:32.920 --> 0:10:36.679 all uh uh. We know it's all smoke and mirrors 0:10:36.679 --> 0:10:39.600 because it's they're trying to get more power. Another thing 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:45.480 is in terms of another seat in Houston, they are 0:10:45.640 --> 0:10:49.640 reducing one of the seats there and that's another seat 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:54.559 that it's traditionally been held by African American and I 0:10:55.000 --> 0:10:58.199 just we gotta do something about that. I mean, even 0:10:58.240 --> 0:11:01.680 if they pass them, they're going I'm gonna go down swinging, 0:11:03.120 --> 0:11:05.400 point blank. Even if i have to go down, I'm 0:11:05.440 --> 0:11:07.920 swinging the whole way and I'm not going to give up. 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:10.000 And that's what my constituents sent me here. 0:11:09.840 --> 0:11:24.240 For earlier, you referenced the California maps, the fact that 0:11:24.280 --> 0:11:27.199 Governor Newsom has taken some action, and that was one 0:11:27.240 --> 0:11:29.880 of the precursors for some of you at least to return. 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:32.680 What do you say to the people who say, that's 0:11:32.720 --> 0:11:34.839 great for California, but what does that have to do 0:11:34.920 --> 0:11:38.280 with folks who need representation from black and brown folks 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:40.280 in Texas. How do you respond to that? 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:41.520 Well, that's true. 0:11:41.520 --> 0:11:43.960 I mean, what we're trying to do is in terms 0:11:44.000 --> 0:11:48.959 of the national stage, to neutralize the five added Republican 0:11:49.040 --> 0:11:52.160 seats that would disenfranchise black and brown people in Texas 0:11:52.559 --> 0:11:57.400 by neutralizing it by gaining five Democratic seats in California 0:11:57.800 --> 0:12:01.600 and hope that those Democrats that they get in California 0:12:02.000 --> 0:12:03.360 won't do Trump's bidding. 0:12:03.679 --> 0:12:04.679 That's what we're trying to do. 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:08.080 We're trying to make sure that we can neutralize it 0:12:08.080 --> 0:12:11.200 because we see what Trump is doing in terms of 0:12:12.120 --> 0:12:17.640 reducing food access to food. Everything's going up, vegetables are 0:12:17.640 --> 0:12:20.040 going up, eggs are going up, and so if we 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:23.280 don't put people in place who will stand up against him, 0:12:23.720 --> 0:12:27.880 then we'll see this whole world burned down. I mean literally, 0:12:27.880 --> 0:12:32.880 that's how Grand America. The impact that America has in 0:12:32.920 --> 0:12:36.960 this world, in this universe is that we have far 0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:40.400 reaching implications and so when we do bad or when 0:12:40.440 --> 0:12:44.040 we fail, others will also fail. So in terms of 0:12:44.080 --> 0:12:47.120 what Texas is doing, yes, in Texas, we don't have 0:12:47.160 --> 0:12:48.439 the numbers to stop it. 0:12:48.440 --> 0:12:49.640 It is very unfortunate. 0:12:49.679 --> 0:12:52.600 If we can get people to vote and get even 0:12:52.640 --> 0:12:55.040 Republicans to see that, you don't want to be a 0:12:55.080 --> 0:12:55.600 part of. 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:56.960 A regime that. 0:12:59.160 --> 0:13:05.040 Ignores or or purposely tries to erase voters, that rig things, 0:13:05.240 --> 0:13:08.520 because one day it's going to be you. Today it's Democrats, 0:13:08.559 --> 0:13:10.600 today is blacks, today's browns, but. 0:13:10.600 --> 0:13:11.679 One day it will be you. 0:13:12.080 --> 0:13:14.880 If you're not on their ship, on board with what 0:13:14.920 --> 0:13:19.760 they're doing, they will eliminate you too. Trump has shown 0:13:19.840 --> 0:13:22.160 us time and time again, just like he did with 0:13:22.200 --> 0:13:25.600 the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the person who said that 0:13:25.720 --> 0:13:28.839 our job numbers, we had high unemployment. 0:13:29.000 --> 0:13:30.120 He fired that person. 0:13:30.440 --> 0:13:33.920 So do we want a nation that's going to mislead 0:13:34.880 --> 0:13:39.880 the public, that's going to remove and eliminate necessary services. No, 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:45.040 So we try to find ways to combat that. And 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:48.720 what we see is trying to get other states and 0:13:48.800 --> 0:13:52.600 maybe these governors in Republican states will say no, I 0:13:52.720 --> 0:13:56.160 believe in democracy. I believe in the votes or the 0:13:56.240 --> 0:13:58.560 chips falling where they may, and so I'm not going 0:13:58.640 --> 0:14:02.199 to interfere. I'm not going to interfere with the public's 0:14:02.320 --> 0:14:04.960 right to vote and choose the candidate of their choice. 0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:07.520 And that's what I'm hoping and all of us are 0:14:07.520 --> 0:14:08.320 hoping will happen. 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:11.680 So the other thing that you brought up, and I 0:14:11.840 --> 0:14:14.959 know you have been following, you have to with all 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:19.920 the conversation around this racist redistricting scheme in Texas. Just 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:24.160 last week, the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of a 0:14:24.200 --> 0:14:29.080 Louisiana plaintiff who said, listen, our voices have been diluted 0:14:29.120 --> 0:14:31.960 to the point where it's unconstitutional. They relied on what 0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:35.000 is left of the Voting Rights Act in the sixtieth Anniversary, 0:14:35.200 --> 0:14:40.320 which is Section two. You reference that democratic seats could 0:14:40.360 --> 0:14:42.840 be picked up in California. But what do you say 0:14:42.840 --> 0:14:45.600 to the folks to say, listen, that's great, but they're 0:14:45.600 --> 0:14:48.480 not necessarily black and brown seats, which is what is 0:14:48.520 --> 0:14:52.200 going to go missing in Texas. These are the seats 0:14:52.200 --> 0:14:54.240 that we have to protect. These are the seats that 0:14:54.280 --> 0:14:57.600 we know can withstand that challenge so far, at least 0:14:57.640 --> 0:14:57.960 in the court. 0:14:57.960 --> 0:14:59.320 I don't know what's going to happen when we get. 0:14:59.160 --> 0:15:01.960 This to the court, but so far, what we know 0:15:02.080 --> 0:15:05.640 they have not, you know, ruled in the other sides 0:15:05.720 --> 0:15:11.080 favor on, is racist redistricting. It has been on political redistricting. 0:15:11.160 --> 0:15:17.320 So what Gavin Newsom's response is is political redistricting and gerrymandering. 0:15:17.960 --> 0:15:20.000 What do you say to the folks that may say, listen, 0:15:20.720 --> 0:15:22.640 this doesn't really make up for what we know we 0:15:22.720 --> 0:15:26.080 need to have in California or in Ohio where they're 0:15:26.120 --> 0:15:28.480 talking about this, or Florida where they're talking about this. 0:15:29.120 --> 0:15:34.720 Sure, so political redistricting, partisan redistricting has been found to 0:15:34.760 --> 0:15:39.840 be constitutional. Racial gerrymandering or racial drawing of the lines 0:15:39.920 --> 0:15:44.800 is unconstitutional. What's happening in Texas is unconstitutional, is what 0:15:44.840 --> 0:15:45.800 my allegations are. 0:15:45.840 --> 0:15:47.840 And that's what the Democrats stand by. 0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:53.160 Because they disenfranchised or they harm black and brown people, 0:15:53.920 --> 0:15:58.840 because they chop up our communities, they pack communities of 0:15:58.920 --> 0:16:01.120 color so that they don't have a voice in the 0:16:01.160 --> 0:16:04.360 other communities where they really belong. In terms of the 0:16:04.640 --> 0:16:09.360 California picking up five Democratic seats, look Democrats believe in 0:16:09.800 --> 0:16:15.720 people having opportunities, people having access to food, being paid 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:16.560 fair wages. 0:16:17.360 --> 0:16:19.600 They believe Democrats believe. 0:16:19.360 --> 0:16:23.200 In access to health care, abortion, health care as well, 0:16:24.280 --> 0:16:27.920 and second chances for those who have been justice involved. 0:16:28.360 --> 0:16:29.760 That's what the party is about. 0:16:30.040 --> 0:16:32.120 So if I got to go to California to take 0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:36.920 a white person that believes in the democratic values that 0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:40.200 I believe in, then I'm okay with that. That's because 0:16:40.520 --> 0:16:43.320 we can neutralize that in Washington. 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:48.200 Yeah, what, what's the thing that you want people to 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:50.240 know at home? For folks who are like, what is 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:53.480 redistricting anyway? What is Jerry manderin? Why should I care? 0:16:53.720 --> 0:16:56.080 To your point, I can't afford my groceries. I don't 0:16:56.120 --> 0:16:58.520 know where the next cause of harm is coming. My 0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:00.720 kid lives in DC, and I'm worried about if they're 0:17:00.760 --> 0:17:04.960 going to survive this unconstitutional takeover DC. How do you 0:17:05.000 --> 0:17:08.240 get folks to pay attention to this really critical issue 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:08.879 in this time? 0:17:10.400 --> 0:17:17.679 Well, typically in elections, the voters choose the outcome. But 0:17:18.200 --> 0:17:24.200 what Trump is asking is for the candidate or the 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:27.080 elected official to choose the outcome, so the voters won't 0:17:27.080 --> 0:17:29.640 have a choice because he's already made it for you, 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:34.280 so your vote with the way when they pack you 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:37.600 into these districts, they already know. They're like, okay, you 0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:40.560 can have that one representative, but I want three more 0:17:41.040 --> 0:17:45.040 for us. And so this is them choosing the outcome 0:17:45.080 --> 0:17:49.320 of the race instead of you the people, your one vote, 0:17:49.400 --> 0:17:52.960 one voice. So that's where we have a problem when 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:56.960 they are choosing the outcome, not us as people of voters. 0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:02.919 That's what the problem is. And I again, Angela, I 0:18:02.960 --> 0:18:05.440 did not intend to do this today, and my emotions 0:18:05.480 --> 0:18:05.920 are raw. 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:11.520 I'm very literally, I feel like this is wrong. 0:18:11.840 --> 0:18:15.200 I may not even be expressing it as clearly as 0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:19.119 I could be when my mind would be open and clear, 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:22.720 but my heart is hardened. I mean, I just feel like, 0:18:23.119 --> 0:18:27.520 what's going on, it's wrong, and this was the best. 0:18:27.320 --> 0:18:31.119 Way for me to do it by refusing to. 0:18:33.040 --> 0:18:36.040 Do what they say in terms of signing a paper 0:18:36.080 --> 0:18:38.199 and being released into custody of DPS. I'm not a 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:43.679 criminal again, So I hope that I'm expressing the urgency 0:18:44.119 --> 0:18:49.080 that we as voters need to look at this what's 0:18:49.160 --> 0:18:51.600 going on in Texas. We see that they will do 0:18:51.680 --> 0:18:54.240 whatever it takes to get what they want. They will 0:18:54.320 --> 0:18:58.560 change the rules, they will rid things, They will cheat 0:18:59.560 --> 0:19:02.720 just to get what they want at our expense. I'm 0:19:02.840 --> 0:19:07.520 a person, we are all people. We have rights and 0:19:08.080 --> 0:19:12.600 freedoms and liberties. So you can't shut me up and 0:19:13.200 --> 0:19:17.200 you can't take my vote. Yeah, and that's where i'm today. 0:19:17.840 --> 0:19:19.879 I want to tell you just because you were saying 0:19:19.920 --> 0:19:23.040 that one you didn't expect to do this today, and 0:19:23.080 --> 0:19:25.800 two your emotions are raw, which is understandable. One you 0:19:25.880 --> 0:19:28.439 all have not really rested because you've been trying your 0:19:28.440 --> 0:19:31.040 best to put together and kind of cobble together the 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:33.520 fight as best you could when you really saw what 0:19:33.640 --> 0:19:36.120 was on the horizon. There are folks in the comments 0:19:36.119 --> 0:19:40.400 saying thank you for fighting for us, and they're saying 0:19:40.440 --> 0:19:46.080 thanks for the fight, and. 0:19:44.320 --> 0:19:46.280 Other folks are saying you won't win in the courts. 0:19:46.320 --> 0:19:46.800 We don't know. 0:19:46.880 --> 0:19:49.840 Only time will tell, but there's a lot of thank yous, 0:19:50.440 --> 0:19:53.439 including run from Texas AFLCIO. And So I think in 0:19:53.520 --> 0:19:57.639 this moment where you're standing on the house floor essentially 0:19:57.680 --> 0:20:00.159 being held hostage, her phone is going off because the 0:20:00.160 --> 0:20:01.400 people are worried about her. 0:20:02.480 --> 0:20:04.440 But while you're being held. 0:20:04.280 --> 0:20:07.360 Hostage essentially on the floor because you won't sign something 0:20:07.880 --> 0:20:11.720 allowing you to have a probation or parole officer basically 0:20:11.760 --> 0:20:15.959 following you from the Texas Department of Public Service. You 0:20:16.080 --> 0:20:19.080 might be there on the floor alone, but outside and 0:20:19.119 --> 0:20:22.320 in this virtual community, you are by far not alone, 0:20:22.560 --> 0:20:24.800 and so people want you to continue the fight. 0:20:25.200 --> 0:20:26.199 However that looks. 0:20:26.240 --> 0:20:29.600 You know, a lot of times people disagree on the means, 0:20:29.640 --> 0:20:32.679 but if the end goal is the same, hopefully we 0:20:32.760 --> 0:20:37.000 can find solidarity on preserving what is in our best 0:20:37.000 --> 0:20:39.600 interest for the end goal. I wanted y'all to stay 0:20:39.600 --> 0:20:41.880 out because I did not want y'all to be kidnapped 0:20:41.880 --> 0:20:42.320 on the house. 0:20:42.320 --> 0:20:44.879 But it takes more than one to stay out with it. 0:20:45.119 --> 0:20:47.320 I know you're right, it does, and so then you 0:20:47.400 --> 0:20:50.560 have to make calculations. Math has to math to your point. 0:20:51.040 --> 0:20:54.119 And so now here we are, and I think that 0:20:54.160 --> 0:20:59.120 it is important that you you know you continue the fight, 0:20:59.200 --> 0:21:02.080 that you know that you are being lifted up, I think, 0:21:02.160 --> 0:21:05.639 prayed for and covered and encouraged by these people in 0:21:05.680 --> 0:21:08.640 the comments. And most importantly, even when they told you 0:21:08.640 --> 0:21:11.800 you cannot be on air from the house floor, that 0:21:11.880 --> 0:21:13.679 you said, no, you're going to hear my voice. You're 0:21:13.720 --> 0:21:16.399 going to hear my story. And if you're gonna be 0:21:16.440 --> 0:21:20.600 down there until Wednesday. Make sure y'all send stay representative 0:21:20.680 --> 0:21:23.840 Nicole Callier all the love on her Instagram and wherever 0:21:23.880 --> 0:21:25.280 else they can reach you. Do you want to tell 0:21:25.280 --> 0:21:26.840 people where they can reach you right now? 0:21:27.440 --> 0:21:30.880 Well, my just Instagram. I don't. I'm on the house floor. 0:21:30.960 --> 0:21:32.560 There's certain rules that we got to do. 0:21:33.080 --> 0:21:34.840 Yes, and we are breaking some of them now. 0:21:34.920 --> 0:21:36.760 So Instagram, wait, you see me? 0:21:36.840 --> 0:21:38.600 Keep looking around because I'm like, uh, who comes? 0:21:38.680 --> 0:21:42.440 Yeah, I know, I'm wondering, Like, so you literally don't 0:21:42.440 --> 0:21:45.359 want her physically restrained. They've already kept her on the 0:21:45.400 --> 0:21:48.760 floor and maybe until Wednesday. If you all can send 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:52.040 comments to Nicole's Instagram, that would be great. 0:21:52.040 --> 0:21:53.680 Where can they reach you on Instagram? 0:21:53.920 --> 0:21:56.760 Represent time at Nicole? Call your ninety five. 0:21:56.960 --> 0:21:59.600 At Nicole, call your ninety five Okay, make sure y'all 0:21:59.640 --> 0:22:02.600 send her love and all the encouragement. 0:22:02.960 --> 0:22:04.919 We don't know where this battle goes from here, but 0:22:04.960 --> 0:22:05.280 what we. 0:22:05.280 --> 0:22:08.639 Do know is that the fight is deep ahead and 0:22:08.680 --> 0:22:11.119