Texas Democrat Jon Rosenthal Calls Redistricting Process a 'Sham' and 'Farce'

Accusations of a Rigged Redistricting Process

• 🗣️ State Rep. Jon Rosenthal (D) asserts that the redistricting process in Texas has been a sham from the beginning.
• 📢 He directly addresses the people of Texas, stating that claims of public hearings on the new maps are false.
• 🏛️ Rosenthal highlights that the redistricting committee did not convene during the regular session, only to hold hurried hearings in a special session without presenting any bills or maps to the public.

Lack of Public Input and Transparency

• 🗓️ Despite claims of public hearings, no maps were presented during the limited sessions held in Austin, Arlington, and Houston.
• ❓ When asked about maps, bill authors and committee chairmen reportedly stated they were not working on or aware of any maps.
• 📊 Over 3,000 Texans provided input, with 98.8% opposing the redistricting process, yet their voices were ignored by state leaders.

Partisan Gerrymandering and Dilution of Minority Votes

• 🚫 The redistricting is described as a mid-decade process not based on new census data, but solely on partisan performance.
• ⚖️ Rosenthal argues the map dismantles communities of color to serve "power bosses in Washington" by diluting their voting power.
• 📣 He likens the situation to a losing team changing referees and rules to win, urging Texans to remember this when they vote at the ballot box.

Call for Fairness and Representation

• 🎯 The core issue is that people should choose their representatives, not the other way around.
• 🗳️ Rosenthal implores Texans to show up and express their desire for fairness, equity, and a voice in the representative process.