During a California State Assembly meeting on Thursday, California Democratic State Rep. Mike Gipson spoke about Democrats' push to redistrict in response to gerrymandering in Texas.
00:00Assemblymember Bryan, Assemblymember Gibson, you are recognized.
00:06Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
00:08That was a mic drop.
00:11I wasn't going to say anything, but two of my colleagues just said something about being silent
00:18that caused me to reflect on what I said on this floor.
00:22Over the 11 years that I've been on this floor,
00:25and let me just say and just repeat what I said since I've been on this green carpet
00:31from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
00:33Life begins the moment you start being silent about the things that matter.
00:41In the end, you will not remember the words of your enemies, but the silence of your friends.
00:47So being on this floor today, I cannot sit by and be silent on the things that matter.
00:54This is a defining moment in history in California.
01:00So I know we referenced our governor multiple times on this floor,
01:05but I am proud of Gavin Newsom, who had the courage to stand up and be bold
01:11when a lot of governors refused to stand up and be bold.
01:17To stand up and let California, to stand up and be bold and be courageous in this moment.
01:26Saving democracy.
01:28Understand this, that our democracy in the United States is on life support right now.
01:35And it takes courage, courage to stand up and be counted.
01:41We are in a defining moment in America.
01:45And I am so proud to be a member of the California state legislature right now.
01:51That no other state is being, is standing up and being counted.
01:57When this president, I am embarrassed.
02:01I am embarrassed to even call him president.
02:06Picking on the most vulnerable people among us.
02:10Sending in ICE agents to snatch our students wearing masks.
02:15That's what happened in third world countries.
02:18How can we not stand up and do what we're doing?
02:21It's about a third term doing something that no other president dared to do.
02:26It's about taking back, it's about changing the Constitution of the United States of America.
02:33And make no mistake about it, they didn't hide what they were trying to do right now.
02:38It's about Project 2025.
02:41And it's been said time and time again.
02:43If California do not do this, we are just handing over the Constitution of the United States of America.
02:51And it started with the United States Supreme Court.
02:54It's about our human rights.
02:58So, to my colleague who's not here, who talks about the phone calls that he received.
03:05And it's about him coming to this country.
03:08Well, it's about the little old ladies who fought in the 60s and the 50s.
03:12In order to get human rights, civil rights, women's rights, LGBTQ rights in this country.
03:21Who can, right now, be taken away from us in this country, in the United States of America.
03:28It's about the next generation.
03:30That we may not even have any black people serving in office to have representation.
03:35It's about 10 African American members of Congress that could be wiped away in Congress if we don't stand up and be counted.
03:47And California stands in the way of that happening.
03:51So, we cannot afford not to do anything.
03:55So, I'm proud of Speaker Revis standing up and being counted and being bold.
04:01And being in this time, making sure that California is counted.
04:06It's about making sure that we stand in the way of this man and his power.
04:15So, yes, it's about ACA 8.
04:19It's about us walking out of this room today and holding our head up high for the next generation.
04:2630 seconds.
04:28We can make a difference and we shall make a difference.
04:32Making sure that we save the democracy for not only for the next generations who will sit in this seat, stand on this floor, but it's about our grandchildren and the legacy that we will leave behind.
04:45So, I'm asking for the 54 courageous Democrats, because we already know what the other side won't do with a strong I vote.
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