Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-Houston) faced widespread criticism after comparing Republican-backed redistricting efforts to the Holocaust during an appearance on “The Don Lemon Show,” prompting her to issue an apology on Tuesday.
Jones, who fled the state along with other Democrats to block a quorum vote, made her remarks from an undisclosed location in New York.
She claimed that the GOP’s proposals were designed to target minority communities, likening the situation to pre-Holocaust Germany.
“In Texas, this is racist; they are targeting black people. They are targeting brown people,” she told Lemon, according to Breitbart. “We have the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act that we got passed, but they’re trying to take us back.”
“And people want to talk about the world as they want it to be, or as it should be, instead of talking about the world as it is.”
She continued with the Holocaust analogy: “I will liken this to the Holocaust. People are like ‘Well, how did the Holocaust happen? How is somebody in the position to kill all of them people?’”
“Well, good people remain silent or good people didn’t realize that what happens to them can very soon happen to me or somebody I love.”
After receiving backlash, Jones walked back her comments.
“That was a mistake, and I apologize for it,” she told Fox News Digital. “Trump is coming for my community, and I get emotional about it and make strong statements. But that was going too far, and I retract that comparison.”
Her remarks were quickly condemned by Gov. Greg Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris.
“Fleeing Texas House Democrats continue to beclown themselves through this desperate, anti-democratic stunt,” he told the outlet. “If the House Democrats who deserted Texans were serious about delivering results, they would come back to the Texas Capitol and do the job voters elected them to do.”
Jones also dismissed suggestions that Democrats must return to the Capitol.
“I ain’t got to do nothing but die. I will stay gone as long as I need to stay gone, she said”
She framed the walkout as part of a broader civil rights movement.
“I always wondered what I would have done would I’ve been walking on…the Edmund Pettus Bridge,” Jones added. “Now is our civil rights moment, people.”
Jones’ controversial remarks come as over 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state to block a quorum on the GOP-backed redistricting vote.
Republicans’ map is designed to add several congressional seats for the GOP, which Democrats say would dilute minority representation.
The absent lawmakers traveled to states including New York, Illinois and Massachusetts, making it difficult for the Texas House to conduct business.
Similar tactics were used by Texas Democrats in 2021 to prevent votes they considered unfair.
Authorities, including Abbott and House leadership, responded with arrest warrants and warnings of possible expulsion, though enforcing them outside Texas presents legal challenges.
The standoff in Texas remains unresolved as Democratic lawmakers continue to stay out of the state. Republican leaders insist the redistricting vote must proceed, while Democrats maintain their opposition, leaving the legislature in a deadlock.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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