Democratic Texas representative Cesar Blanco says he has received a number of racist phone messages following a chaotic scuffle between lawmakers on the Texas statehouse floor Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT
People are leaving racist messages for a Texas Democrat involved in Monday’s statehouse scuffle
Democratic Rep. Cesar Blanco accused Republican Rep. Matt Rinaldi of inciting "hate and racism."
In one message, whose audio Blanco posted to Twitter, the caller said, "Yeah, I stand with Matt Rinaldi, and f--- the illegal [aliens]," before using a derogatory slur to refer to those of Hispanic descent.
"My office is now receiving these calls," Blanco wrote in another tweet. "@MattRinaldiTX comments incite hate and racism."
Blanco's tweets and the phone calls he received come on the heels of a fight on the statehouse floor that ensued Monday after Texas Republican Matt Rinaldi told Democrats that he had complained to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers about hundreds of protesters in the gallery of the House.
ADVERTISEMENT
The protesters had gathered to demonstrate against Senate Bill 4, which would allow police officers to question people on their immigration status if they are detained or arrested. It is set to go into effect on Sept. 1. It would also allow for local officers to be penalized if they intentionally push back against federal requests to detain suspected illegal immigrants.
A number of Democrats reportedly clapped for the protesters, who eventually had to be removed for getting too loud. Shortly after, lawmakers told The Texas Tribune that Rinaldi approached them and said that he had called ICE "to have all these people deported." He also reportedly yelled, "F--k them" and "F--k you."
Democrats seized on Rinaldi's action as a prime example of why the bill was dangerous.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
ADVERTISEMENT