Dolores Huerta in Austin fighting against Texas' redistricting congressional maps
AUSTIN (KXAN)—Dolores Huerta, a labor and human rights activist, is in Austin this weekend, speaking out against Texas’ controversial congressional redistricting maps.
Huerta, the 95-year-old co-founder of the United Farm Workers, will join Beto O’Rourke and Congressmen Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett at a rally at the Capitol on Saturday.
It’s a part of the nationwide movement called the National Day of Action.
“We’re trying to save our democracy, and when people’s representation is taken away from them, this is a very, very crucial moment,” Huerta said.
Saturday’s rally comes after more than 50 Texas House democrats left the state to break quorum, delaying a vote on the proposed congressional maps in Texas.
The maps move some Democratic incumbents out of their current districts and place them in another district, either in competition with a current Republican member or in competition with someone in their own party.
It’s a move to secure five additional GOP seats in the U.S. House before the 2026 election. It comes after a request from President Donald Trump.
Critics argue it’s unfair gerrymandering, which would negatively impact minority voters.
“We know that in Texas, 60% of the population in Texas are people of color, and what President Trump is trying to do, and Greg Abbott and [Ken] Paxton are trying to is take away people’s right to vote, take away the right to representation,” Huerta said.
Huerta has worked for decades as an activist for civil rights, women’s rights and workers’ rights. She said the current battle over redistricting is part of a larger fight.
“We are a democracy that is by the people, for the people, and the people need representation,” Huerta said. “That’s what we’re fighting for here in Texas.”
