Texas Turns Out for Democracy, Abortion Rights, and Wendy Davis!

by Colleen McCullough, Lisa Kernan Social Justice Fellow, Trust Women/Silver Ribbon Campaign

The pro-choice majority in Texas reaffirmed the power of effective democracy and grassroots activism June 26. Drawn by state Senator Wendy Davis’ (D) heroic 11-hour filibuster, activists swarmed the Senate gallery, successfully blocking a draconian omnibus anti-abortion bill that would have closed down approximately 80% of all abortion clinics in Texas.

This victory, while momentous, is already facing another challenge.  Gov. Rick Perry plans to call another special session on July 1. But the people of Texas showed a groundswell of support in conquering this bill, reminding the Texas senate, in-person, that women’s bodies will not be so easily policed. Hundreds camped out at the capitol, gave testimony on the House floor and made a successful fuss from the senate gallery when Republicans attempted to force the vote. Regardless of how SB 5 progresses from here, the reproductive justice movement has found a beacon of light, a shining example of effective advocacy and outrage in Texas’s victory. The movement has found a much-needed rallying point around which to mobilize and engage national public attention.

Another, more ominous lesson to be learned from the Texas case is the horrific insight into the creative and cunning ways in which anti-choice politicians push anti-women legislation through the Senate. An omnibus bill comprised of previously unsuccessful anti-abortion legislation, a special session called specifically to pass a bill that negatively impacts women’s lives and health in a direct way, a suspension of the rules to ensure the passage of such a discriminatory law? Texas Republicans, like many politicians across the country, are manipulating the system to deliberately strip women of their reproductive rights. We need to be aware of this manipulation and hold these politicians accountable, not only for denying us reproductive and other civil rights, but also for wasting precious time and taxpayer money to enact draconian measures that literally benefit no one.

How it Happened

Wearing a back brace and pink running shoes, Davis filibustered on the Senate floor for more than 11 hours against SB 5.  As advocates tweeted the news (including a message from Pres. Obama), supporters flocked to the Senate. Right before the 12 midnight deadline for the end of the special  Senate session, Lieutenant Governor Dwight Dewhurst sustained the third and final challenge to Davis’ filibuster and called for a vote, inciting outrage from hundreds in the gallery. Amidst the uproar, the Texas Senate attempted to vote on the bill, and Republicans initially claimed it had passed 19-10. But Texas Tribune’s Becca Aaronson later reported that an official Senate timestamp showed the final vote approving SB 5 was taken at 12:02 A.M, two minutes after the special session’s deadline. Around 3am on Wednesday, the Senate confirmed that the vote was invalid, and that the bill had not passed – this time.

SB 5 combines several pieces of anti-abortion legislation that failed to advance during the regular session. More than 24 anti-abortion bills were proposed in the Texas legislature this year but under a two-thirds rule, none of the bills passed. However, on June 10th, buckling under continued pressure from Republican legislators, Gov. Rick Perry (R) forced a vote on SB 5 in a special 30-day session. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst suspended the two-thirds rule for the special session, essentially ensuring that SB 5 would pass.

But Texas wasn’t going down without a fight. More than 700 Texans descended on the Capitol building last Thursday, sharing testimony and delaying the House vote of the bill for 12 hours. Democrats continued to delay the vote on Sunday for another 15 hours, but around 4am on Monday, Texas House Republicans cut off the debate and forced a vote. The last chance to stop SB 5 in its tracks was a Democratic filibuster in the Senate that would have to last until 12 midnight Tuesday night.

Senator Davis rose to the challenge, and to her feet, standing for nearly 12 hours without drinking, eating, using the bathroom or even leaning on a desk per Texas Parliamentary filibuster rules. When Republicans finally managed to silence Davis, protesters in the wings took over, causing enough “ruckus and noise” (in Dewhurst’s words) to delay the vote, thus blocking the bill.

The Latest – from Ellie Smeal at Feminist Majority:

We just learned that Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to hold another special session.

His plan? To pass SB5 and negate Sen. Wendy Davis’ 12-hour-long fillibuster to defeat a TRAP law that would have closed the majority of her state’s abortion clinics.

We’re pissed off. Help us tell Gov. Perry that the fight has just begun.

He’s planning to start the next special session July 1. That means we have four days to flood his office and social media feeds.

Tweet at him using #PissedAtPerry. Email him. Post on his Facebook page. Flood his office with calls.

We won in Texas Tuesday night, thanks to Sen. Davis and all of her strong supporters. But Gov. Perry is determined to make that victory short-lived. Let’s show him who he’s dealing with.

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