WATCH: Congressional Candidate Thrown to the Ground, Dragged Out of Wild Texas Redistricting Hearing

Isaiah Martin, a Democratic congressional candidate running in Texas’s 18th district, was arrested Thursday during a contentious state redistricting hearing at the Capitol.

Martin had signed up to speak against a Republican-led proposal that would redraw the state’s congressional maps. Critics say the plan would dilute the voting power of Black and Latino communities, including Houston’s District 18, ahead of the 2026 midterms.

President Donald Trump is leading the charge for Texas to further gerrymander its districts, saying last week he believes the GOP can “pick up five seats.” Trump’s move has led the leaders of New York and California to threaten to do the same should Texas eliminate Democrat-held seats.

In his testimony, Martin accused Republican lawmakers of gerrymandering to appease Trump and warned they are dismantling civil rights protections. When his two-minute speaking time expired, he refused to yield the microphone.

Capitol police intervened, and Martin was forcibly removed and arrested, at one point being wrestled to the floor.

“History will not remember you kindly for what you have done. As a matter of fact, history might not remember you at all,” Martin said to scattered claps and whistles.

He now faces misdemeanor charges, including criminal trespass and resisting arrest. His team has released a statement condemning the arrest as an attempt to silence dissent. He remains in custody as of Friday afternoon, according to his brother, who claims he hasn’t heard anything in close to 14 hours.

Watch below:

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