Texas Rep. Nicole Collier speaks out
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The standoff began on Monday, when Democratic members returned to the Capitol after being out of the state for more than two weeks due to a controversial redistricting map. Rep. Collier refused to agree to leave the chamber under the surveillance of the Department of Public Safety.
A protest is planned Tuesday outside of the House chamber where one lawmaker is refusing to leave after rejecting monitoring from the Department of Public Safety.
Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier refused to come to the Texas state Capitol for two weeks. Now she won't leave, and fellow Democrats are joining her
Collier remained held in the lower legislative chamber on Monday after refusing to sign a slip that would have permitted a Department of Public Safety officer to shadow her around and outside of the Capitol—surveillance that House Speaker Dustin Burrows subjected Democrats who broke quorum to protest redistricting upon their return.
Shortly after, a protest formed inside the Capitol with chants in support of Collier, including four women sitting outside the doors of the chamber Monday night surrounded by dozens of Texas DPS officers. An officer told them, "If you do not leave, you're subject to arrest for trespassing," and then they were handcuffed and taken into custody.