AUSTIN (KXAN) — People packed the capital lawn on Saturday morning for the “Texas for All” rally protesting the state’s plan to redraw redistricting maps.
“I ask you, do not allow this moment to pass without a fight,” said former U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke. “Do what you can with what you have where you area today and every single day going forward. Are we together on this?”
It was a sentiment echoed by others in the crowd.
“It’s our government. And if we don’t treat our government and come together and take charge of it, it won’t serve us,” attendee Aaron Polinard said.
Gov. Greg Abbott has faced harsh criticism by Democrats for the redrawing plans, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom said he will fight back by doing redistricting in his own state to undo whatever might happen in Texas.
“According to Politico, two-thirds of his state disagrees with him on that. And for him to be able to get anything passed he has to have two-thirds of the state agree with him on it,” Abbott said during a Friday news conference. “It’s a joke. He’s posturing for the presidency and doing nothing more than that. He’s all talk and no action.”
Those at the rally said it is no longer left versus right, adding the issue is much bigger than that.
“This is the working class versus the billionaire class,” attendee J. Gordon Mitchell said. “So what you’re seeing here [Saturday] is people that come from all walks of life.”
Abbott also said Friday he is ready to pull out all the stops to add the five seats.
“We hold a lot more bullets in our belt that we’ll be ready to use if we need to,” Abbott said.
A fight in Texas that is far from over as the second special session returns on Monday.
Abbott has vowed to continue to call special session after special session until the redrawn maps are passed.