Thousands Rally Nationwide To ‘Fight the Trump Takeover’ Of Congress

Thousands of people across the country are expected to participate in a coordinated national protest against Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas and other states on Saturday (August 16), per The Guardian.

The demonstrations, part of the "Fight the Trump Takeover" campaign, aim to fight against what organizers say is an attempt to rig congressional maps in favor of President Donald Trump’s political allies.

The day of action will be anchored in Austin, Texas, with simultaneous rallies planned in 34 states across the nation.

“Texas House Democrats are blocking a redistricting vote in the Texas House right now to Stop the Trump Takeover,” a statement from the protest website reads. “But Trump has made it clear that he’s not stopping at Texas. He’s targeting Missouri, Ohio, Florida, and every state he can twist to help him steal Congress.”

Texas Republicans are currently pushing for mid-decade redistricting backed by Trump that would give the GOP five additional seats in Congress. In response, Democratic lawmakers fled the state to break quorum and block the proposed maps.

“Though this fight started in Texas, it doesn’t end here,” Drucilla Tigner, executive director of Texas For All, said in a statement. “This isn’t just about redistricting or one state’s politics. It’s about the future of our democracy.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a counterattack against apparent political gerrymandering on Thursday (August 14), announcing that his state would draft a new redistricting map that adds five Democratic seats.

“The incredible support we’re seeing – not just back home in Texas, but from Democrats, Republicans, and independents across the country – proves this fight is bigger than any one state,” Texas House Democratic Chair Gene Wu said. “We’re defending our entire country from the Trump takeover, and I’m honored to stand with every patriotic American who refuses to let extremists rig the system.”

National Democratic organizations, including MoveOn, Indivisible, and the Democratic National Committee, are helping organize Saturday’s protests. Similar protest days this year, like April’s “Hands Off” and June’s “No Kings” demonstrations, drew millions of people to action across the nation.

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