Posted on 08/10/2003 7:14:04 AM PDT by Libloather
Remap protesters rally at Capitol
By Nathan Levy
Special to the Express-News
Web Posted : 08/10/2003 12:00 AM
AUSTIN — Under a broiling sun, about 4,000 people rallied Saturday in front of the state Capitol to cheer speakers opposed to a Republican-led congressional redistricting effort and to voice support for the 11 Democratic state senators who fled to New Mexico last month to block it.
Participants trekked in from Laredo, San Antonio, Dallas and other cities, many carrying placards with such messages as "Scrap the Map" and "Oh Thank Heaven For the Senate Eleven!"
The 11 lawmakers fled to Albuquerque on July 28 to break a Senate quorum and prevent action on redistricting in the second special legislative session this year.
In May, House Democrats spent four days in Oklahoma rather than vote on new maps that would give Republicans as many as 21 of the state's 32 Congressional seats. Texas Democrats currently have a 17 to 15 majority in Congress.
Alex Aleman, 45, the San Antonio president of the American Postal Workers Union local, traveled to the rally by bus with colleagues. He said redistricting is based on population counts, not voting trends, and the state doesn't need it.
State Rep. Dawna Dukes, D-Austin, led the 64-minute rally at the Capitol's south steps.
"We're not going to just take back our state," she said. "We're going to take back our country," referring to Democrats' accusations that Gov. Rick Perry has pushed redistricting at the behest of presidential adviser Karl Rove and U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land.
All 11 absent senators addressed the crowd, their comments broadcast over speakers via cell phone.
"Make no mistake: We are in this fight to win," State Sen. Leticia Van De Putte, D-San Antonio, said, adding she was humbled by the crowd's support.
Sens. Royce West of Dallas and Judith Zaffirini of Laredo called on President Bush, at his ranch in Crawford, to stop the redistricting push, which the Democrats have said is designed to pack minorities into fewer districts, reducing their influence.
"President Bush, you ran on a platform of being a uniter," West said. "President Bush, your state is divided. You can put a stop to it."
Zaffirini said, "It's time for President Bush to call off the political dogs."
In Crawford, two White House press office aides declined comment.
Kathy Walt, Perry's press secretary, said Saturday she doesn't know of any conversations between Perry and Rove.
Perry "makes his decisions independent of Washington," Walt said.
DeLay visited Perry shortly before the governor called the first special session, which ended without a remap after Democrats stopped Senate action under a rule requiring a two-thirds majority to debate legislation. Sen. Frank Madla of San Antonio thanked his wife for attending the rally.
"Helen," he quipped, "make sure and send money today."
Earlier, San Antonio supporters had boarded two buses at Crossroads of San Antonio mall and headed for Austin.
Members of the League of United Latin American Citizens filled one bus. Many said they were impressed with the senators' fortitude in Albuquerque.
"They're fighting for our rights," Jay Alaniz said. "I can respect that."
Marquis Williams and his mother rode another bus. Williams, vice chairman of the University of Texas San Antonio Young Democrats, said he viewed the senators' move as a desperate, yet reasonable, attempt to communicate an important message.
"I see it as taking a stand for what you believe is right," he said.
At the rally, musician Joe Ely performed, beginning with a Woody Guthrie song containing the lyric, "I'm blowing down this old dusty road, and I ain't going to be treated this way."
The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported that a handful of Republicans were on hand to support of the redistricting effort.
"Republicans voted for governor, lieutenant governor, Texas Senate, Texas House and Texas resident President Bush is commander in chief," said Dana Petroni of Katy. "Redistricting is a legislative process not a judicial process."
Express-News Staff Writers W. Gardner Selby, Nicole Foy and Roger Croteau contributed to this report.
So do I. Now, if we can only find a way to get the RATS to move out of the COUNTRY...
I have come to expect better from the SA Express-News.
We should have told them that we were having lobster served on our luxury bus(or private jet).
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