Texas abortion bill SB5 caused a late night frenzy both in the state capital and across the internet, as reproductive rights supporters avidly monitored on the ground proceedings involving a filibuster headed up by State Senator Wendy Davis.
In the Texas Legislature, abortion bill SB5 — widely opposed in and outside the state due to proposal of some of the harshest abortion restrictions in the country — was confirmed to be dead late last night by Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.
Dewhurst was displeased that between a legendary filibuster by State Sen. Davis and a massive number of vocal supporters on site, Republican supporters were unable to pass the bill.
He said after admitting defeat:
An unruly mob, using Occupy Wall Street tactics, disrupted the Senate from protecting unborn babies.
After the Texas abortion bill SB5 kerfuffle Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston, spoke to the New York Times about the late-night frenzy over the filibuster and crowd reaction.
Republicans initially claimed the vote was able to pass by midnight before Dewhurst was forced to admit it hadn’t, and Jones opines:
The GOP Senate leadership comes out of this whole process looking somewhat disingenuous, deceptive and disorganized.
As women’s rights supporters all over the country followed the attempt to push through Texas abortion bill SB5 late into the night, Davis emerged as a hero to many who employed the hashtag #standwithwendy to voice support for her filibuster.
The outcome regarding the Texas abortion bill was also seen as a win for democracy by supporters, citing the inability of GOP lawmakers to override the will of the people inside the legislature.
The citizens overrode the Texas Senate with their voices. Tonight we proved who really has the power. #txlege #sb5 #YAL
— YourAnonLive (@YourAnonLive) June 26, 2013
Davis later tweeted:
Thanks to the powerful voices of thousands of Texans, #SB5 is dead. An incredible victory for Texas women and those who love them.
— Wendy Davis (@WendyDavisTexas) June 26, 2013
Above, a clip of Texas abortion bill SB5 opponents engaged in disruptive tactics to prevent a vote.