**AUSTIN, TEXAS — **Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu (D-Houston) issued the following statement after the House Redistricting Committee voted to pass Congressional redistricting on a party-line vote:
"This vote is a profound act of contempt for the people of Texas. It is the final confirmation that to hold power, Republicans will gladly silence the voices of Black and Latino Texans who have fought for generations to be heard.
"When a majority uses its power not to govern, but to erase the voices of its fellow citizens, it forfeits its legitimacy."
Watch the FULL VIDEO of Republicans passing Trump's gerrymander over the objection of Texas House Democrats. (Vote starts at 22:45)
Democrats on the committee spoke out against the racist gerrymander in committee speeches ahead of the vote:
**Redistricting Committee Vice Chair Jon Rosenthal: **"This body has been complicit in complying with the order of the president to deliver five new seats... This is a racist attack on black and brown communities, and I won't stand for it. We will continue to fight this with everything we have."
**Speaker pro Tempore Joe Moody: **"At the dawn of America, a Black person was counted as three-fifths of a person. The effect of these maps is that now, a Black person's vote is worth only one-fifth. I guess I should feel lucky, because people who look like me are worth at least one third. We are truly doing worse in Austin today than in 1787 Philadelphia."
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu: "In my 13 years here, I have not seen a process like this, hiding the ball not only from the public, but from members themselves. This action does not move us forward. It takes us very far back."
**Rep. Chris Turner: **"This morning is a travesty...to ram through a discriminatory and racially motivated congressional map to the full House of Representatives. ... To the thousands of Texans who drove for hours, stood in the heat, tried to register to testify despite the obstacles: I want to express my deep gratitude and admiration. Please note this fight is far from over."
Rep. Christian Manuel: "It hurts knowing what could happen to [these communities] because I know what happened to me... I get winning, but at what cost is it okay to harm people? I am telling you, there's real harm in breaking up communities of interest like this."