Wendy Davis's remarkable filibuster to deny passage of abortion bill
Senator's 11-hour speech successfully stalls bill that would close almost all abortion clinics in America's second-largest state

Tom Dart in Houston
The Guardian, Wednesday 26 June 2013 21.37 BST

At 11.18am on Tuesday, a little-known Texas senator named Wendy Davis stood up and began a passionate speech against a bill that would severely restrict access to abortions in America's second-largest state.

Ten hours and 45 minutes later the 50-year-old was still talking, still on her feet, and the embattled pro-choice movement had a new national icon.

Wearing a smart jacket and pink running shoes, Davis embarked on an epic filibuster attempt to deny the bill passage through the Texas legislature by talking non-stop for 13 hours to prevent a vote. With less than two hours to go before the midnight deadline, she was finally silenced when Republicans challenged her on a "three strikes and you're out" rule, claiming she had violated regulations by twice straying off-topic and by allowing a colleague to help her with a back brace.

But with the aid of fellow Democrats and hundreds of cheering, jeering protestors, the bill was successfully stalled amid chaotic scenes lasting into the early hours of Wednesday. By then, hundreds of thousands of Americans were following events live on social media and Davis had become a star.

As a fitness enthusiast she had the stamina required for the gruelling feat of endurance. The rules are strict: no digressions, no food or water, no leaning on a desk, no bathroom breaks. And no sitting - Davis's chair was removed when she started speaking, hence the need for comfortable footwear.

She read from a binder filled with stories of women affected by the issue, at times becoming emotional. Hundreds of orange-clad protesters crammed the halls and public gallery in the senate chamber of the Texas capitol in Austin. Some shouted interruptions and were removed by police.

It seemed Davis would be doomed to heroic failure after nearly 11 hours when Republicans stopped her for a third time. But other Democrats attempted to stall proceedings by raising points of order.

At about 11.45pm, Senator Leticia Van De Putte, who had arrived from her father's funeral, felt she was being ignored by the presiding officer, the Republican Lt Gov David Dewhurst. She asked him: "At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognised over her male colleagues?"

That sparked boisterous chanting from the public gallery which lasted until after midnight and threw proceedings into turmoil. Amid the din, no one was sure if a vote had taken place in time. Democrats claimed it happened a minute or two after the deadline, while Republicans said the vote should stand.

After initially appearing to declare that the bill had gone through, Dewhurst said at about 3am that it had passed by 19 votes to ten but the "ruckus and noise going on" had prevented him from completing the formalities required to rubber-stamp it into law.

"I didn't lose control of what we were doing. We had an unruly mob ... using Occupy Wall Street tactics," he told reporters. Finally lost for words, Davis said that she was "overwhelmed".

The proposals called for abortions to be banned after 20 weeks, clinics to upgrade their facilities to be classed as surgical centres and doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. They would have forced 37 of the state's 42 clinics to close, according to opponents, making it very difficult for women in rural areas to obtain an abortion.

There is now talk that Davis could run for governor of the strongly Republican state in 2014. Her rise is already remarkable. Aged 14, she had after-school jobs selling newspaper subscriptions and working at a juice bar to help support her single mother and three siblings. By 19 she was a single mother herself, a divorcee working two jobs and living in a trailer park.

After studying to be a paralegal she transferred from a local college to Texas Christian University, earning a degree and acceptance to Harvard Law School. Remarried and with a second daughter, she graduated from Harvard and became an attorney in Fort Worth, joining the city council.

Davis divorced again and was elected to the Texas Senate in 2008, unseating a Republican in Fort Worth in a surprise victory. She first attracted attention in 2011 by filibustering — for under two hours this time — to frustrate a bill that would have cut funding for education by $4 billion. That led Rick Perry, the Texas governor, to describe her as a "show horse". He may now call a special session to try and push through the abortion bill once more.

Tuesday's filibuster went viral and more than 150,000 people watched via YouTube. Thousands more followed on Twitter, especially after President Obama brought it to his 33 million followers' attention , telling them "Something special is happening in Austin tonight" and using the hashtag #StandWithWendy.

What she did was wonderful. Well done M'am.

What she did was wonderful. Well done M'am.

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President Obama brought it to his 33 million followers' attention , telling them "Something special is happening in Austin tonight" and using the hashtag #StandWithWendy.

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