President Donald Trump is engaged in ending wars abroad while imposing heavy tariffs on countries, including India. However, at home, democracy supporters have started mobilizing against him and Republican policies.
Accusations of Gerrymandering in Congress
On Saturday, numerous rallies and events were organized by labor groups and democracy advocates in the US to protest the Trump administration's attempt to reshape the congressional map to favor Republicans in Texas.
Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, stated during a protest in Texas, 'We certainly don't want the President to take over our state, manipulate our representatives, and rig elections. We demand democracy.'
James Shoorte, a protester in Chicago, Illinois, expressed, 'We must stand against Trump's divisive tactics from the White House aimed at dividing Texas.' Similar protests against Trump’s policies have popped up in cities like Oakland, California, and New York City. However, California's Governor Gavin Newsom is contemplating changing electoral district boundaries in response to Republicans.
Source: aajtak
The Republican Gain: Five More Seats
Protests under the banner of 'Fight the Trump Takeover' are taking place in over 34 states, with the largest in Austin, Texas, where Trump supports a redistricting plan that could grant Republicans five additional congressional seats.
Earlier this month, Texas Democrats left the state to prevent a quorum for voting on maps. The Texas for All Alliance stated that Trump is intimidated by Americans and is trying to seize Congress by silencing minority voices.
Pressure on Government Efforts
Groups like Indivisible, MoveOn, and Planned Parenthood are participating in these protests. Ezra Levin from Indivisible mentioned that not every protest needs to be as massive as the previous one; the key is to keep pressing.
Drusilla Tigner from Texas for All noted that though this fight began in Texas, it doesn't end here. It's not solely about redistricting or one state's politics; it's about the future of our democracy.
In Texas, Republican leaders are covertly working with President Trump to redraw the congressional map, aiming to gain electoral advantages by potentially denying Democrats five seats. In response, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is planning similar actions in California.
