Several concerned citizens and advocates, many of whom were democrats, gathered outside Monday evening’s redistricting public hearing to protest the movement.
Both political leaders on the national and state level spoke at the rally in an open parking lot near the building where the hearing was held Monday afternoon at the University of Texas at Arlington campus.
Among those present were two members of Congress whose districts could be targeted in an effort to give President Donald Trump what he called for two weeks ago in gaining at least five Congressional seats in Texas for republicans.
“Obviously it would be a lot tougher if the districts were drawn in a way that I wouldn’t be able to win,” Congressman Marc Veasey who represents areas of Tarrant and Dallas counties. “That’s the least of my concerns.”
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Houston traveled to Arlington for the rally.
“Once you move something in those four districts, it impacts four or five districts around them,” she said. “It multiplies. It’s the domino effect.”
There were several speakers including State Representative Chris Turner of Arlington who sits on the Texas House Redistricting Committee.
Others at the rally included an advocacy group based out of Texas called Common Cause Texas.