CHICAGO — A tense morning took a sharp turn during the Texas House Democratic Caucus’s continued pushback against mid-decade redistricting when a threat was made against members gathered out of state.
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According to a joint statement released by Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rep. Ramón Romero, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins, members of the caucus were targeted by an unspecified threat while attending meetings in Chicago.
This morning, a threat was made against the safety of the members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus,” the statement read. “We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred.
The lawmakers said the group remains focused on its work and expressed thanks for the swift response by authorities. “We are grateful for Governor Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety.”
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The incident occurred as Democratic lawmakers from Texas gathered in Chicago to collaborate with state legislators from across the country in opposition to what they call a “politically motivated” redistricting effort spearheaded by Texas Republicans.
Despite the scare, caucus leaders made it clear they would not back down from their efforts to defend voting rights and challenge the GOP’s proposed congressional map.
Authorities have not yet released any details about the nature of the threat.