Contact: Jordan Goodrich, jordan.goodrich@sierraclub.org
AUSTIN, TX - Power lies in one of two places: with organized people or organized money. Texans have lived under single-party rule for twenty five years. That party consistently puts the interests of polluters, billionaires, and corporate special interests ahead of the needs of everyday working people. For Texans and our families, the consequences have been severe: a frozen electric grid, catastrophic flooding, more expensive bills, and the deaths of thousands of our friends, family members, and neighbors.
Greg Abbott and Donald Trump’s redistricting scheme means more of the same - and Texans deserve better. That is why the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, our 100,000+ members and supporters, and our allies across Texas strongly oppose this desperate power grab. The lives and livelihoods of Texans are on the line, and we are committed to continuing to organize, educate, and mobilize Texans in support of a better future.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines that determine who represents us in the United States Congress. Done fairly, it reflects changing populations and ensures every vote counts. Gerrymandering, on the other hand, is when politicians manipulate those lines to protect their power - often by diluting the voting strength of communities of color, working-class neighborhoods, and everyday people.
That’s exactly what’s happening in Texas now.
Donald Trump and the career politicians that benefit from voter oppression demanded the creation of five new congressional districts in Texas. The goal of this manipulation is to tip the balance of power even more drastically in favor of the ultra-wealthy and polluting corporations. With five new seats in congress, Trump and his lapdogs would be able to pass more harmful legislation like massive cuts to healthcare, food assistance programs, scientific research, and climate resilience work, while giving more tax breaks and million-dollar handouts to special interests, political donors, and the top 1%.
In response, Dave Cortez, Director of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, said the following:
“We’re tired of politicians putting politics, division, and power above the needs of our families, kids, and communities. The career politicians pushing this scheme are the same ones who’ve chosen to hand out billions in public dollars for polluting energy corporations instead of investing in flood infrastructure and planning for the next inevitable extreme weather crisis. They clearly care more about their political careers than the rest of us. We can’t expect change by screaming more loudly at people who are actively trying to harm us.
To Sierra Club members and supporters, and our allies across Texas: we need to organize. This is our time to get out and talk to neighbors, to parents at the school pickup line, and church members. Remind people - people you may not know so well - that our kids and families are dying. Not just due to extreme weather, but the failure of politicians who’ve had power for twenty-five years and will do anything to keep it.“
The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter urges the Texas Legislature to reject gerrymandering and political power grabs, stop the manipulation of Texas maps for partisan gain, and put the needs of Texans first. Our democracy - and our future - depend on it.
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