After refusing a Republican mandate that would have subjected her to state trooper surveillance, Democratic state representative Nicole Collier staged an unprecedented protest this week by spending the night on the Texas House floor. 

In a video posted to social media, Collier essentially shared she was being sequestered. 

“Hey, fam. I'm here on the floor of the Capitol because I am not free to leave,” she said. “But I hear you. I hear you cheering, ‘Let her out.’ And I so appreciate it because I know you're tired, you're fed up, just like me. And so I appreciate you taking a stand. Continue to resist. We don't have to take the bullies. We don't have to let them push us over. We can stand up against them. I'm drawing the line, and I'm glad that you are. Continue to resist and let them know that you won't back down and that you demand fair representation and fair maps. Thank you for standing in solidarity.” 

Speaker Dustin Burrows placed stringent restrictions on House Democrats' movements when they returned to Austin after departing the state earlier this month to oppose a contentious redistricting plan. Lawmakers were informed that they would need to stay under escort by the Department of Public Safety until the House reconvenes on Wednesday morning and that they could only leave the chamber with written permission.

According to reports, the majority of Democrats nodded, pointing to the officers who were with them as they passed through the Capitol and displaying the "permission slips" they had been given. But Collier declined. Because of this, she claims she has been restricted to the House floor, only permitted to move between the chamber and her office while being watched, and is not permitted to leave the building unless she agrees to constant monitoring.

Reps. Vince Perez and Gene Wu were among her colleagues who joined her on the floor in solidarity, sharing pictures of the snacks they packed for the overnight stay.

“My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights,” said Collier. “I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts. My community is majority-minority, and they expect me to stand up for their representation. When I press that button to vote, I know these maps will harm my constituents — I won’t just go along quietly with their intimidation or their discrimination.”