'Gutting And Diluting Black Political Power': Williams Shreds Trump Over TX Redistricting Plan

Forbes Breaking News

During a press conference on Wednesday, Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) spoke about a proposal to redistrict Texas's congressional maps.

Transcript

00:00Thank you. Thank you, Congressman V.C. for convening us on this very important conversation today.

00:09Y'all, I'm Congresswoman Akema Williams, and I proudly represent Georgia's fighting 5th Congressional District,

00:14where we fight for our right to vote.

00:16I have the honor of serving in the seat of the late Congressman John Lewis,

00:19who served in this body for over 30 years.

00:22And as you've heard from our fellow co-chair, Congresswoman Terry Stoll,

00:25Congressman Lewis gave a little blood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge so I could serve in this body,

00:30so that we could have free maps and free and fair elections,

00:34so that everyone had a voice and a say in our democracy.

00:37Just last week, we had the John Lewis Day of Action to honor Congressman Lewis.

00:44And as we think about everything that he fought for and where we are today,

00:50Congresswoman Stoll, we might not be counting jelly beans in a jar, but make no mistake,

00:54the end results of what Republicans and Donald Trump are trying to do are the same thing,

00:59to suppress the right to vote for people in my district, people who look like me,

01:04people who have been historically marginalized from the electoral process.

01:08That's exactly what they're trying to do.

01:11But y'all, Republicans around the country, they're encouraged by the Trump administration.

01:16They're so afraid of their own ideas that they feel the need to silence the voices of the people just to win.

01:22They're afraid of what the American people would think about their policies,

01:26that they're trying to change the rules to their benefit.

01:30They're afraid to defend ripping food and medical care out of the hands of our most vulnerable neighbors.

01:36Republicans and Donald Trump are also afraid to let people have their voice heard,

01:40so they're working in advance to rig the outcome of the elections.

01:45But y'all make no mistake, the Trump administration's policies are hurting people

01:50and they're trying to force redistricting so that we can't hear the resounding voices

01:54of the American people rejecting their cruelty that Donald Trump is inflicting on our country.

01:59But we also need to be clear about what these redistricting proposals mean.

02:04They mean gutting the influence of people who live in cities.

02:08They mean gutting and diluting black political power and other groups that have been historically marginalized

02:14in our political process.

02:15We need to be clear and we need to make it plain.

02:19Republicans fundamentally believe that people who look like me

02:23and people who represent districts like mine,

02:27they don't deserve an equal right in our electoral process and their votes don't matter.

02:33But let me be clear, I will continue to fight for the votes no matter where the fight comes from,

02:40everywhere from the halls of Congress to courtrooms to your local communities

02:45because y'all, it is going to take all of us to push back and stop this.

02:49We have to make sure that we are working to build that beloved community

02:53that Congressman Lewis taught us about.

02:55Congressman Lewis, one of my favorite quotes was,

02:59because we know that everything is being thrown at us at one time.

03:02He said, let us not get lost in a sea of despair.

03:05Let us be optimistic, be hopeful,

03:07because our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, or a month.

03:12This is the struggle of a lifetime.

03:14And so just because we've already fought these battles,

03:17y'all, there is more work to be done.

03:19And I stand with you to continue to fight until we win justice

03:23and free and fair access for everyone.

03:25Thank you so much.

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