Texas GOP Faces Backlash as Black Politician Arrested During Hearing Protest

A Democratic congressional candidate experienced a contentious confrontation in a Texas House hearing, resulting in his arrest for challenging GOP-led redistricting initiatives, as reported by PEOPLE. On July 24, Isaiah Martin, a 27-year-old contender for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, was interrupted and subsequently taken into custody during a public session of the Texas House Congressional Redistricting Committee. Martin alleged that the GOP’s redistricting strategy constituted “illegal gerrymandering” and suggested that Republicans were vying for former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. “Republicans, I see you; you know the play,” he remarked, referencing Trump’s request for five seats. Following his remarks exceeding the time limit, Republican Rep. Cody Vasut directed the sergeant-at-arms to remove him. Video footage captured the scene as Martin was restrained and dragged out, shouting, “You have no shame.” Charged with disrupting a meeting and resisting arrest, he spent over 24 hours in Travis County Jail, but all charges were later dismissed. “They did this because I spoke up… I will keep speaking truth to power,” Martin declared post-release.