Pro-democracy activists and labor organizations held hundreds of rallies across the United States on Saturday to oppose the Trump administration’s support for Texas to redraw its congressional map in favor of Republicans.Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke spoke at one such event in Texas, where dozens of Democratic lawmakers had left the state to block Republicans from having the quorum needed to vote on the redistricting plan pushed by President Donald Trump.“They do this because they are afraid,” O’Rourke told an audience on Saturday, speaking of those attempting redistricting. “They fear this power they see here today.”According to Drucilla Tigner, executive director of the pro-democracy coalition Texas For All, over 300 events took place in 44 states and Washington DC. This resulted in drawing tens of thousands of participants, as reported by news agency Reuters.More than 50 Texas Democrats have been staying in Illinois, which also saw protests on Saturday. Staying outside Texas shields them from civil arrest warrants that could be enforced in their home state.By leaving, the Democrats prevented the redistricting plan from advancing during a special legislative session called by Governor Greg Abbott, which ended Friday. Abbott quickly called a second special session, saying that important issues such as redistricting, flood safety legislation following deadly July floods and other unfinished business could not move forward without them.Meanwhile, California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a new redistricting plan on Thursday that he said would give Democrats five additional congressional seats, potentially balancing out Republican gains in Texas.In a statement, the Texas House Democrats said they would return only if the special session in their state is ended and once California’s new maps are officially introduced.
