Senator Wendy Davis filibusters abortion bill
A Texas Senator is being called a hero for women’s rights after she filibustered an abortion bill for 12 1/2 hours on her feet without breaks and without drinks of water. Senator Wendy Davis successfully killed the Texas anti-abortion bill, which threatened to close nearly all of the abortion clinics in the state.
According to the The Austin American-Statesman, Davis was also helped by 400 protesters who gathered inside the Capitol and halted the proceedings 15 minutes before the roll call could be completed with what they called “a people’s filibuster.”
Davis’ filibuster was at one time halted by by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who ruled that her discussion of mandatory ultrasound testing was off-topic. Despite that, the protestor’s yells from inside the Capitol prevented Dewhurst from formally signing the bill before the deadline passed, effectively killing it.
An obviously upset Dewhurst later called the protesters an”unruly mob”
This is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Dewhurst. “An unruly mob using Occupy Wall Street tactics has tried all day to derail legislation that has been intended to protect the lives and the safety of women and babies.”
Senator Davis has seen her popularity increase immensely following Tuesday’s filibuster. On Twitter her followers jumped from a little over 1,000 to over 20,000 people. -danielle canada
