Texas Republicans are being slammed for what critics are calling an outrageous abuse of power after Democratic Rep. Nicole Collier was effectively trapped inside the state Capitol overnight for refusing to sign a so-called “permission slip.”
Collier, who represents Fort Worth, said she wouldn’t allow herself to be monitored or escorted by armed officers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS), a rule imposed by GOP leadership to control the movements of Democrats after their return from a protest walkout, CNN reports.
“I refuse to sign. I will not agree to be in DPS custody,” Collier said. “I’m not a criminal. I am exercising my right to resist and oppose the decisions of our government. So this is my form of protest.”
Earlier that day, Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordered that all Democrats be escorted around the Capitol by DPS officers after they came back from a two-week absence. The Democrats had left Texas to stop a GOP-backed redistricting plan that would give Republicans up to five more congressional seats—widely seen as a favor to Donald Trump ahead of next year’s elections.
Most Democrats reluctantly went along. They showed reporters the signed “permission slips” and pointed to the state troopers escorting them across the building.
But not Collier.
In a video posted from the House chamber Monday night, she made it clear she wasn’t backing down.
“My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights,” she said. “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. 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.”
Democrats across the country rallied behind Collier and blasted Texas Republicans for what they see as a dangerous slide into authoritarianism.
“In the face of fascism, Nicole Collier is a hero,” said state Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, chair of the Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus.
Seth Harp, a Florida Democrat running for Congress, didn’t mince words.
“It’s essentially kidnapping and taking a hostage,” he said before adding, “Hey GOP—exactly how much do you hate the Constitution?”
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who once served in the Texas Legislature, called it like she saw it.
“Let me be clear: LOCKING Rep. Nicole Collier inside the chamber is beyond outrageous,” she wrote. “Forcing elected officials to sign ‘permission slips’ and take police escorts to leave? That’s not procedure. That’s some old Jim Crow playbook. Texas Republicans have lost their damn minds.”
Local station KVUE breaks down the full story in the report below:
