Meet the Woman Behind the Texas Abortion Filibuster
The story of state senator Wendy Davis' breakout performance on the national stage
With just a few hours left before the end of its legislative session Tuesday, the Texas senate was poised to pass one of the most sweeping abortion-restriction bills in the country, banning the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy and potentially forcing the closure of a majority of the state’s abortion clinics. Then a determined woman in pink sneakers brought it all to a halt.
State senator Wendy Davis, a rising Democratic star in Lone Star politics, filibustered the bill into the night and, for the time being, prevented its passage. The legislation is still likely to become law if Republican Governor Rick Perry calls a special session, but through her protest, Davis became a hero for abortion-rights supporters nationwide, drawing 400,000 mentions on Twitter under the hashtag #standwithwendy, according to the social-media company.
Unfazed by the Texas legislature’s strict rules that required her to speak continuously on topic and not sit down, Davis filibustered for about 10 hours. She has a long history of perseverance.
The story of state senator Wendy Davis' breakout performance on the national stage
With just a few hours left before the end of its legislative session Tuesday, the Texas senate was poised to pass one of the most sweeping abortion-restriction bills in the country, banning the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy and potentially forcing the closure of a majority of the state’s abortion clinics. Then a determined woman in pink sneakers brought it all to a halt.
State senator Wendy Davis, a rising Democratic star in Lone Star politics, filibustered the bill into the night and, for the time being, prevented its passage. The legislation is still likely to become law if Republican Governor Rick Perry calls a special session, but through her protest, Davis became a hero for abortion-rights supporters nationwide, drawing 400,000 mentions on Twitter under the hashtag #standwithwendy, according to the social-media company.
Unfazed by the Texas legislature’s strict rules that required her to speak continuously on topic and not sit down, Davis filibustered for about 10 hours. She has a long history of perseverance.
And those fucking republicans tried to say that Wendy wearing a back brace would break the rules of the Filibuster:
Wendy Davis is awesome.
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