Wendy Davis

Texas state Senator Wendy Davis' filibuster, supported by hundreds of protestors, stopped Republican leadership from passing one of the most restrictive anti-choice bills in the country into law. Can you show Sen. Wendy Davis that we've got her back by pledging to support her in her next campaign?  Make a Pledge!

Dear MoveOn member,

On Tuesday night, the nation's eyes were on Texas state Senator Wendy Davis, who bravely stood on the floor of the Texas Statehouse for 11 hours—without food or water—filibustering a bill that would have been a devastating setback for women's reproductive rights.¹

Earlier in the day, when hundreds of protestors packed into the Statehouse, the Legislature shut down their testimonies. So Sen. Davis stood for them. With support from Democratic allies, she launched her filibuster, reading aloud the stories of those who didn't get to testify.²

That's what a true leader looks like. Let's make sure champions like Sen. Davis know that when they stand up for what's right, we've got their backs. 

Will you show Sen. Wendy Davis you've got her back by making a pledge to support her in whatever office she runs for next? You don't have to enter your credit card information. 

Click here to make a pledge to Wendy Davis' next campaign. 

Republicans are attacking women's rights, economic rights, and voting rights in statehouses across the country. The bill Sen. Davis was fighting against would have criminalized abortion after 20 weeks with no exceptions, implementing new standards that would have forced nearly every clinic in the state to close.³

But as Sen. Davis' filibuster was stopped by a procedural point, protestors in the gallery rose up in a "people's filibuster," drowning out Republican leadership until the deadline had passed—effectively killing the bill.⁴

This was an unforgettable moment, but we know this fight isn't over. As we've seen in Virginia, Ohio, and, most recently, Wisconsin, Republicans are on the attack, and they are not backing down.

Sadly, it's likely that Sen. Davis would have lost her seat in 2012 to redistricting if it weren't for the same Voting Rights Act protections the Supreme Court dismantled Tuesday.⁵ And as if that weren't bad enough, moments after the court's decision, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said that the state's restrictive voter ID law would go into effect immediately.⁶

We must build on the groundswell of support we saw Tuesday, and stand together to fight back against these restrictive policies. And that's why building a war chest for Sen. Davis is more important than ever.

Let's show Republicans that—like Sen. Davis—we aren't afraid, and we won't back down.

Click here to make a pledge to Wendy Davis' next campaign. 

We need more heroes like Wendy Davis and all those who fought for freedom Tuesday night in Texas.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Milan, Garlin, Susannah, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Who is Wendy Davis?" The Washington Post, June 26, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291114&id=70215-10220574-9dSgqlx&t=4

2. "Texas abortion bill fails to pass after epic filibuster," NBC NEWS, June 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291115&id=70215-10220574-9dSgqlx&t=5

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. "Wendy Davis' Texas Senate Seat Was Saved By Voting Rights Act," Huffington Post, June 26, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291116&id=70215-10220574-9dSgqlx&t=6

6. Ibid.

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