Chicagoans join national effort to oppose redistricting in Lone Star State

Chicago joined a national effort to protest unlawful redistricting plans in Texas proposed by Gov. Greg Abbott and the Trump administration during an event in Millennium Park on Aug. 16. 

In addition to supporters from around the city and suburbs, Democratic representatives from the Texas House of Representative were in attendance. The state representatives, who left Texas two weeks ago to deny their state legislature a quorum to vote on the proposed maps, have been welcomed in Illinois by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“Texas House Democrats are demonstrating what it means to fight for the preservation of our constitutional republic,” said Pritzker at an earlier press conference welcoming the politicians. He has characterized the redistricting plan as “cheating” at the request of President Trump.

Gerrymandering—the practice of manipulating electoral boundaries to favor one party—is an issue of broad national concern.

The Chicago event was organized by Indivisible Chicago. Stay tuned for more local events to support individual states facing these actions as they unfold.