Thread by @TexasHDC

Members are about to go live in a press conference following their historic quorum break from Mt. Zion Church in East Austin.

Watch live: txdem.co/live

And follow along here for updates

#txlege

#txlege

“It is fitting we are gathered here because the black church has always been the focal point of the Civil Rights Movement” @SherylCole1, whose House District is home to Mt. Zion #txlege

.@CarlOShermanTX is offering a prayer: “We pray that we would have more voters. ... remove us from this hypocrisy and give us democracy” #txlege

.@jessicafortexas “Enough is enough. ... The Democratic women on this committee were silenced. Witnesses were silenced.” #txlege

“This is a witch hunt aimed at people of color. ... The people of Texas deserve better.” @jessicafortexas #txlege

“They have done these tactics time and again. From literacy tests. From the time they required a poll tax. This is no different.” @NicoleCollier95 #txlege

“We used every tool in our toolbox. And tonight, we used our last one.” @NicoleCollier95, Chair of the @txblackcaucus #txlege

“These men and women behind me and the Democratic Members who are not here but with us in this fight ... have never blinked.” HDC Chair @ChrisGTurner #txlege

“We denied the quorum that they needed to pass this bill and we killed that bill.” @ChrisGTurner #txlege

“One of the many great traditions of the African American church in this country is ‘Souls to the Polls.’ ... Republicans were determined to take that away.” @ChrisGTurner #txlege

“Yesterday, @POTUS talked about Texas. Of all the things that could be on his mind, he took a moment to talk about SB 7.” @TMFtx #txlege

“We need a national response, Mr. @POTUS. Voting is fundamental. It does not know your color. It does not know your zip code.” @TMFtx #txlege

“When it comes to our rights, particularly the right to vote, we will not participate in our own demise.” @TMFtx #txlege

“You won’t call a special session for COVID. You won’t call a special session for a mass shooting. ... You wouldn’t call a special session for Hurricane Harvey. But so you can line up your political partisan chops, you’ll bring (SB 7) back to Austin” @TMFtx #txlege

Reporters asked if House Dems are prepared to fight again when this comes back in a special.

All Members give a resounding “yes” #txlege