Texas Department of Public Safety troopers dragged activists in handcuffs from a State Affairs Committee hearing at the Capitol. The incident occurred after the chairman directed her to stop video recording the hearing of an anti-abortion bill.
State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) reportedly directed Amy Hedtke, a well-known activist, to stop her Facebook Live broadcast of the committee’s hearing on a bill designed to restrict abortions in Texas. “She was legally recording a public meeting on Facebook when Chairman Cook directed her to stop,” Denton County GOP Chairman Lisa Hendrickson told Breitbart Texas in a phone interview.
The video, recorded by Hedtke, shows Chairman Cook making an announcement that the hearing is being live streamed on the Capitol’s website. “Only credentialed media is allowed to visually record,” Chairman Cook stated from the panel. “Anyone else will be asked to leave.”
Shortly after the chairman’s announcement, a committee staff member and a Texas DPS trooper can be seen advising Hedtke to stop recording. Hedtke claims state law allows the recording of public meetings.
The video, posted on Facebook by Shane Cameron, shows Hedtke being removed from the Capitol building. The trooper requested she gather her belongings and leave the room. The staff member stated the chairman has the right to bar non-credentialed media from recording video of the hearing.
Hedke refused to comply stating the law allows her to record the meeting. After a lengthy discussion, the recording stops.
A video posted by Shane Cameron shows Hedtke being dragged in handcuffs from the Capitol building.
Messages of support to Hedtke quickly popped up on her Facebook page.
Clint Stutts posted:
Free Amy posts quicly popped up as well:
Breitbart Texas reached out to Chairman Cook’s office for a statement on the matter. No one answered the phones in his office at 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.