One of the dozens of Texas Democrats who fled the state to block the passage of GOP-backed election security bills appeared to compare Gov. Greg Abbott‘s threat to have them arrested upon their return to the pursuit of escaped slaves prior to 1863.

Abbott, a Republican, previously threatened to arrest the roughly 60 Democratic lawmakers who fled the Lone Star State to Washington, D.C., on July 12. On Friday, State Rep. Senfronia Thompson shot back, saying, “I’m ready to be arrested” and asking, “What do you do to a slave if you don’t do nothing but arrest them when they flee?”