Texas Rep. Nicole Collier Stages Solo Sit-In Protest Inside Capitol Chamber
RETWEET if you SUPPORT Nicole Collier. pic.twitter.com/CMEKjYxvae
— Lucas Sanders 💙🗳️🌊💪🌈🚺🟧 (@LucasSa56947288) August 19, 2025
In a dramatic act of political defiance, Texas State Representative Nicole Collier has chosen to spend the night inside the locked chambers of the state House. This solo protest comes after weeks of Democratic efforts to block a Republican-led congressional redistricting plan. While other colleagues left the state for two weeks to break quorum, Collier’s latest move is a powerful, isolated stand against what she and her party view as partisan gerrymandering. Live feeds showed the representative from Fort Worth inside the chamber, demonstrating a continued refusal to concede in the heated political battle.
The “Permission Slip” That Sparked a Lock-In
This was my night, bonnet and all, in the #txlege. #thisisme pic.twitter.com/46YgqbMUk8
— Nicole Collier (@NicoleCollier95) August 19, 2025
The immediate catalyst for Rep. Collier’s protest was a highly unusual demand from House Speaker Dustin Burrows. To ensure a quorum for Wednesday’s session, Burrows required all Democrats to sign a “permission slip” authorizing a Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper to physically accompany each lawmaker. This measure was designed to prevent a repeat of the quorum-breaking walkout. Representative Nicole Collier, a seven-term Democrat representing a majority-minority district spanning five municipalities, refused to sign. Her refusal to grant this permission is a symbolic act of defiance against Republican tactics, framing the requirement as an extreme overreach. By choosing to be locked inside the chamber instead, she has turned the GOP’s own security measure into a stage for protest, ensuring her physical presence is accounted for on her own terms.
A Strategic Protest for Fair Maps
Rep. Nicole Collier (D), is being held hostage after refusing to sign a Republican-mandated “permission slip” requiring her to accept round-the-clock monitoring by state troopers—a rule imposed to prevent another Democratic walkout over GOP-led redistricting plans. Collier has… pic.twitter.com/yaqx3aD7Tn
— TabsWorld (@tabs__world) August 19, 2025
This protest is not an isolated incident but a strategic move in a larger fight over redistricting. The Republican plan is accused of aiming to dilute the voting power of minority communities, like those in Nicole Collier‘s district, to gain a significant advantage in the upcoming midterm elections. Collier’s sit-in draws direct attention to these tactics and the extreme lengths to which the majority party is going to pass them. Her action embodies a commitment to her constituents, protesting a process she believes will silence their voices. As a seasoned lawmaker, her protest carries weight and highlights the deep tensions in Texas politics over voting rights and fair representation, ensuring the national spotlight remains on the battle unfolding in Austin.
