Texas Democratic Rep Sheila Jackson Lee is arrested and restrained with zip-ties during voting rights march in Washington, DC
U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee was arrested during a voting rights protest in Washington DC on Thursday.
The Texas Democrat posted a photo on Twitter of herself being escorted by police with zip ties around her wrist and a caption reading: 'I will NEVER stop fighting for Voting Rights.'
Lee is among several lawmakers pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 4263, also known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
'The time is NOW to move the voting rights bills in the US Senate forward!! Enough is enough,' she tweeted.
U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee was arrested during a voting rights protest in Washington DC on Thursday
The Texas Democrat posted a photo on Twitter of herself being escorted by police with zip ties around her wrist and a caption reading: 'I will NEVER stop fighting for Voting Rights'
She shared the news of her arrest on Twitter, saying it was an act of 'good trouble'
After her release, Lee posted a video to Twitter speaking about her arrest.
'I engaged in civil disobedience today in front of the Hart building in Washington DC and I was arrested,' she said.
'I believe when you're getting into good trouble, when you realize the 15th Amendment has guaranteed the fundamental right to vote, any action that is a peaceful action of civil disobedience is worthy and more to push all of us to do better and do more and to pass H1S1 and to pass the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Act.
She continued, saying that residents of both her state and country need this legislation to pass.
'The people of Texas are desperate and need. The people of America are desperate and need it,' she said. 'And the Constitution provides that support -- the fundamental right to vote.'
Lee is pushing for lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 4263, also known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act
She says the legislation is necessary for Texans, as well as citizens nationwide
In both her posts Lee included #GoodTrouble, which was a term favored by John Lewis (D-Ga.), the late U.S. representative for whom SB 4263 was named, Fox News reported.
Lewis believed that citizens needed to get into 'good' or 'necessary' trouble in order to evoke transformative change and 'redeem the soul of America'. An example of good trouble would be getting arrested to bring attention to and raise support for your cause.
At least two other House Democrats, Rep. Joyce Beatty, of Ohio, and Rep. Hank Johnson, of Georgia, were recently arrested during voting rights protests.
The arrests come as Democrats are publicly opposing several election-related bills from various states that they say include 'thinly veiled attempts to discourage minorities from voting'.
Republicans responded to these claims saying the proposals aim to 'ensure the integrity of elections by creating obstacles against voter fraud'.
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