On Thursday, Texas Congresswoman Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was arrested in D.C. at a voting rights protest outside of the Hart Senate Building on Capitol Hill.
Lee tweeted, “I will always stand up to voting rights, democracy, and the American People! #GoodTrouble #VotingRightsAct”
Voting rights for Texans have been at the forefront in D.C. since Democrat representatives left the state earlier this month and denied Republicans quorum to pass a HB3, a voter restriction bill.
“The 15th amendment has guaranteed the fundamental right to vote and any action that is a peaceful action of civil disobedience is worthy and more to push all of us to do better and do more,” Lee said in a video after she was released.
Before her arrest Rep. Diego Bernal (D-San Antonio). Rep. Nicole Collier (D-Fort Worth) and Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) testified before Congress in a hearing on voting rights in Texas.
Lee is the third Black representative to be arrested in protests over voting rights this month.
Both Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson were also arrested in demonstrations for voting rights.
Texas Democrat representatives across the state are pressuring the Senate to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act.
Abbott has already threatened to arrest Texas Democrats when they return to the state and if necessary will call another legislative special session until he fulfills his agenda.
Texas Democratic Co-Executive Director Jamarr Brown issued a statement in support of Lee: “We’re incredibly grateful to Rep. Jackson Lee for being an unwavering voice for justice. This is what leadership looks like. Throughout history, Black women like Rep. Jackson Lee have led the way on civil and voting rights issues, and today, as we face the greatest civil rights struggles of our time, Black women remain the leaders at the heart of this fight.”
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Kennedy is a recent graduate of the University of St.Thomas in Houston where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Celt Independent. Kennedy brings her experience of writing about social justice issues to the Texas Signal where she serves as our Political Reporter. She does everything from covering crime beats, Texas politics, and community activism. Kennedy is a passionate reporter, avid reader, coffee enthusiast, and loves to travel.
