Decision hands GOP 30 of 38 congressional seats & shows the ongoing dismantling of the Voting Rights Act

Statement from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project: “The Supreme Court’s ruling to allow Texas Republicans to use this gerrymandered congressional map is an insult to Black and Latino Texans whose voting power has already been systematically targeted and diminished. Let’s be clear about what this ruling means: a map engineered to give Republicans control of 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats — up from the 25 they currently hold — will now shape our elections while a legal battle over racial discrimination drags on.

“This ruling hands Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton another win in their decade-long mission to entrench minority rule in Texas. From defending racially discriminatory maps, to fighting federal oversight of voting rights, Abbott and Paxton have abused every bit of state power to weaken the political voice of Black and Latino Texans.

“For years, Texas lawmakers have manipulated district lines to silence Black and Latino voters, even as these communities drive nearly all of the state’s population growth.

“This is what the erosion of the Voting Rights Act looks like. When federal courts refuse to stop racial discrimination that is staring them in the face, they’re telling Black and Latino Texans that their voices and their votes don’t matter. TOP rejects that premise, full stop. And we’re not backing down.

“TOP will continue organizing in every corner of this state because no partisan map, no matter how rigged, can erase the power of communities fighting for a Texas that works for all of us — regardless of age, race, faith, gender, or income.”

###

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP) in reaction to a federal three-judge panel blocking the new congressional district map passed by the Texas Legislature this summer:

“This judge panel saw the gerrymandered map for what it truly is: A racist Trump takeover to strip Black and Latino Texans of their political power.

“It cannot be overstated how a sitting president called on Greg Abbott to carry out this ridiculous mid-decade redistricting, and how our governor cowardly complied.

“Politicians shouldn’t pick which voters to heed and which to silence. We the people elect our officials in this country. 

“It’s up to us – community members, leaders, and voters – to take power back into our own hands to ensure that our elections allow the will of the people to prevail. 

“No matter the next court ruling, we will unapologetically keep fighting for fair representation, for our voices to be fully heard, and for a Texas that represents and works for ALL its people – regardless of age, race, faith, gender, or income.”

###

Republican leaders ram through gerrymandered maps, proving once again that the system is doing exactly what it was built to do: protect white political power and erase Black and Latino Texans from decision-making.

Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is calling out Republican leaders in the Legislature for doing exactly what the system was built to do: using gerrymandered maps to strip Black and Latino Texans of political power. This is not a glitch; it is white supremacy operating as designed.

“Let’s be clear, this isn’t some accident or misstep. This is how white supremacy is supposed to work,” said Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of TOP. “These maps are a deliberate tool to keep Black and Latino Texans out of power. They’re not broken, they’re working exactly as intended.”

Black and Latino Texans account for nearly all of the state’s population growth over the past decade, yet Republican-drawn maps do not reflect this reality.

“When you see Republicans drawing maps to erase Black and Latino communities, don’t call it a failure, call it what it is: White supremacy doing exactly what it’s supposed to do,” Brown said. “They want us silent and invisible. But we know what’s going on, and we’re not going anywhere. We’ve survived worse, and we’re not shutting up or backing down now.”

TOP stressed that fair maps for all, regardless of Texans’ race, age, faith, gender, or income, are essential to ensuring representation on health care, housing, education, and other everyday issues that impact our lives.

“Politicians should not be picking their voters,” Brown said. “Our communities will continue to organize, mobilize, and demand fair representation; in the courts, in the streets, and at the ballot box. The power of Black and Latino Texans will not be erased.”

###

About Texas Organizing Project:

Texas Organizing Project (TOP) organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP):

“Republican leaders are targeting a Black woman legislator, Rep. Nicole Collier, because she refuses to play along with their discriminatory power grab. Forcing her to accept a police escort to leave the chamber is about intimidation, surveillance, and silencing — and Black communities across Texas know exactly what that looks like.

“These redistricting maps were designed to strip Black and Latino voters of their political voice. Now Republicans are using the same heavy-handed tactics, recycled from segregationists’ playbook, against a Black elected official who dared to resist. Black leaders shouldn’t be treated like political prisoners. Police escorts for elected officials = surveillance and intimidation. #FreeRepCollier

“TOP stands with Rep. Collier. We refuse to accept attacks on Black communities, their leaders, and their right to fair representation. We will keep organizing until every Texan has a real voice in our democracy. #ProtectBlackVoices”

###

About Texas Organizing Project:
Texas Organizing Project (TOP) organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.