This past Tuesday morning, I was on Facebook reading the usual updates about people’s vacations or food issues or what have you when something caught my eye. And that something was the pictures and reports from some of my Austin friends—all of them women, all of them writers, all of them wearing orange—who were at the Texas state capitol building in support of Senator Wendy Davis who was planning to give a 13-hour filibuster that day in hopes of squashing state bill 5 (SB5).
SB5, for those of you not up on Texas politics, is the omnibus anti-abortion bill currently advancing in the legislature and nobody but the politicians behind it really seem to like it. In fact, polls show that “80% of Texans don’t want their lawmakers to be considering abortion-related bills during the special session that Gov. Rick Perry (R) convened at the beginning of the month” and “57% said they don’t trust the Governor or the legislature to make choices about women’s health care. And that opposition cuts across party lines: The support for women to make their own reproductive decisions remains strong among both Independents (76 percent) and Republicans (61 percent).”
What that says to me is that whether they’re pro-choice or pro-life, Texas women want to have control over their own bodies. Or at least have a say in matters of reproduction before a bill this restrictive is passed. (And I’m sure many of you disagree with my views on this, which I do respect.)
Throughout that afternoon, I watched Senator Wendy Davis’ filibuster online and kept up with the tweets of Austinites who were actually there in the senate gallery. Part of me wished I was with them because I so strongly believed in what Wendy was doing, but the bigger part of me kept thinking, “Why bother? It’s David versus Goliath and no matter what we do, they’re always going to triumph. For the love of god, Perry just vetoed the Fair Pay Act for Texas Women. Plus there’s ice cream in the freezer.” But then two little words started popping into my head: What if?
By 5 p.m. I could no longer ignore those two little words and I knew I couldn’t just stay home. I showered, dressed and told my family that I was heading downtown to give my support. “OK,” my husband said, “Give ’em hell, honey. Oh, and fill up the gas tank on your way back.”
By the time I arrived at the capitol, there was a fairly long line to get into the packed senate gallery (400 public seats) where the filibuster was taking place. Luckily, I found my friend Kimber in line and the two of us were let inside as soon as two people came out. (Texas Senate Nightclub, y’all!)
We found seats in the front row, but after a few minutes, a 25-year-old male page—who was clearly raised right—snuck over to us and whispered that there were seats over on the left where we could better see Senator Davis, so we moved. Here’s a blurry iPhone photo:
Senator Davis—in her now-famous pink sneakers—was at the halfway mark of her filibuster at this point. She wasn’t allowed to lean, sit or go to the bathroom for a sum of 13 hours. Kind of like a car trip with my dad. And her opponents weren’t making it easy on her. In fact, right after I took this picture, she was given her second of three strikes because she let another senator adjust her back brace. (And then, of course, someone made a Wendy’s Back Brace Twitter account.)
What struck me the most as I sat and listened to her for almost four hours was how prepared, measured and calm she was. Other senators would object or interrupt her and each time she remained 100% unflappable. Her arguments against SB5 were logical, medical and personal while her opponents used terms like “The Creator” and phrases like “pregnancy only occurs after accurate intercourse.” (Wha?) Her composure and dedication were unlike anything I’ve ever before seen.
The gallery was filled with Wendy Davis supporters (mostly women, but more men than I’ve ever seen at an Indigo Girls concert) and most were wearing orange. They were all quiet, polite and riveted by what was happening on the floor. Almost everyone was tweeting or on Facebook, myself included. It wasn’t long before my tweets started getting more of a response as word of the filibuster spread throughout the country and the #standwithwendy hashtag blew up. All total, more than 150,000 people watched the live proceedings on YouTube that night. (Meanwhile CNN was busy with a compelling story on muffins.)
After four hours in the gallery, my phone was almost dead, my bladder was crying and I had to make the decision to stay or go home. I knew that if I left the room, I couldn’t get back in because there were hundreds of people waiting to take my place. Including my friends Carlotta and Heather, who texted me photos of the long lines. But I just couldn’t stay, so I got up, exited the gallery and then my jaw dropped when I saw that the somewhat large crowd from before had swelled into an amazing sea of orange. Every staircase, every floor, every hall was packed with people of all ages. There was no way to get one photo of everyone in the building, but I like this one on the cover of the Austin Chronicle.
And here’s one from Carlotta (notice the portrait of Ann Richards on the right—-her daughter Cecile was there that night):
As you may have heard, what happened between 11:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. that night was something truly incredible. Senator Davis’ speech was halted by the Republicans on a technicality not too many minutes before the clock ran out. Then the gallery—who, like I said, had been very respectful the entire time—completely erupted for a solid 10 minutes, chanting, “Let her speak! Let her speak!” Senator Leticia Van de Putte also brought the house down with her question: “At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over her male colleagues?” Yep, don’t mess with Texas women.
Amazingly, their actions effectively delayed the vote on SB5 until after midnight when it was no longer valid—even though the Republican senators still tried to count it. Thanks to Wendy Davis, Goliath was beat this time. (And I never would have left my seat in the gallery if I’d known there’d be shoutin’.)
Carlotta was in the rotunda during all of this and hundreds of people started chanting, “Wendy! Wendy! Wendy!” (I’ll upload the video once I figure out how). I totally wish I’d been there with her and not just because I could have pretended it was actually “Wendi! Wendi! Wendi!” they were screaming.
By now the story of exactly what happened that night has been reported in the mainstream media (here’s a great recap in photos from the Texas Tribune) and most people now know who Wendy Davis is. And, not unexpectedly, Governor Perry has already scheduled another special session on Monday to vote on SB5 and has been talking trash about Senator Davis left and right. I have no doubt that he’ll do whatever he can to get this bill passed and that’s very disheartening. But still.
What if?
What if hundreds of people left their homes and headed to the capitol on a hot Tuesday night? What if an outnumbered female Senator in pink running shoes stood strong for 13 hours to give a voice to millions of women across the state? What if a YouTube feed of the Texas senate was suddenly being watched across the world? What if standing up for what you believe actually made a difference? What if hundreds of exhausted, exhilarated, passionate supporters standing in the capitol rotunda started singing “The Eyes of Texas” in unison in the wee hours of the morning?
And what if you learned that no matter how daunting the opposition, how insurmountable the odds, how small you may feel—-it matters that you still put up a good fight? My god, does it matter. Tuesday night I learned that we all have a voice. And if we don’t use it, someone else will.
Next time I’m staying for the shoutin’.
What if, indeed. Thank you so much for going and seeing it in person. Thank you.
I’m so proud to call you a friend. What a great recap. And such an important reminder to use our voices.
I’m so glad you went. And I hope you remembered to fill up the gas tank.
“One day an army of gray-haired women may LOUDLY take over the Earth!” [apologies to Gloria Steinem].
Fabulous recap. Thank you.
So grateful to have been part of this historic moment. I came home feeling the same as you — that I could, in fact, make a difference. Among my other takeaways were my suprise and delight at the number of men there — probably a 65-35 split. I also came away with a renewed resolve to get to know more about my local/state government (including the names and bios of our congresswomen and men) and get more involved on a regular basis.
Here’s a link to my Vine of the “Wendi/Wendy!” chant (if it works).
http://seenive.com/u/907197075672936448
Your FB posts were what tipped me over into deciding to go. I wanted my voice, no matter how small, to be heard.
Amazing recap! Thank you!
Thank you! Know that your presence represented not only the women of Texas but women all over the U.S. who are damn tired of men telling us what we can and cannot do with our bodies. The turn out was overwhelming and inspiring!
Thanks for making us all feel like we were there in person, even though we were only there in spirit. #standwithwendy
Beautifully done. I felt so hopeful and proud on Tuesday, and grateful for my roving Wendi/Woman on the inside.
If this bill passes and more like it, maybe our generation and women even younger will realize just how important the word “feminism” actually is.
Dammit I’m crying. I watching this go down in Texas was so inspiring as our rights are stripped away in Virginia (most of our clinic will close if the lawsuit against the TRAP laws that have gone into effect this month aren’t successful).
Beautiful. I totally adore you. Keep writing. You rock!
Awesome! Tears in my eyes, too…this reminds me that I do a pretty good job standing up for myself, but I need to stand up for other women, too. Nice work, Wendi Aarons and Wendy Davis. Ya’ll (is that how you say it?) do us proud over here in Idaho.
Thank you for standing with us Texas Women, and thanks for all who crossed party lines to do so, and thanks to the men who realized that they DO have a dog in the hunt (as husbands, brothers, fathers and friends!
I had heard about the planned filibuster, but wasn’t expecting much. I mean, how much impact could one woman, a Democrat at that, have in a room full of Republican men in Texas, right?
I’m so glad you FB’ed and tweeted, because you made me curious enough to watch until the very end. I chatted with my friend, Anna, about it as we streamed various stations. We discussed Sen Dewhurst’s apparent ignorance of the rules and regulations of the session, applauded Sen Van de Putte’s grace and strength (seriously, to be able to come from your father’s funeral and be that poised- you rock, Sen Van de Putte!!) and laughed as Sen Watson made pretty much every Republican present sound like a fool.
As the last violation was called, I found myself arguing with my computer, trying to convince every Senator that of course current sonogram practices and law are pertinent to SB 5. Unless those men think slapping a pair of x-ray glasses on a Polaroid and hoping for the best is going to do the trick… Maybe they do…
Anyhow, thank you, Wendi for going and making me curious enough to tune in. Thank you for giving me the chance to stand with Wendy and jump around like a complete fool as the people erupted in cheers. The Wendi/Wendys of Texas are not to be messed with!!!
Unforgettable night. Excellent article, Wendi
Brilliant and beautiful. A tear has broken through my solid Prozac armor. What if indeed! Go Wendy! And Go Wendi!
Damn beautiful.
Crazy beautiful Texas.
What she did, what you all did was incredible. Canada was watching and listening and many of us were standing with you.
Great recap. This whole mess in Texas makes me so angry. Why are these radical republicans ignoring the will of the people? I mean, I know why. Because they are radical. But DO YOUR JOB and represent like you should! Argh. It makes me so MAD. But hooray for Wendy and I hope Texas women stay strong and keep this type of legislation from ever passing.
I was absolutely riveted by this. Of course, I found out about it on Twitter. Completely gobsmacked that NO mainstream media outlet considered it newsworthy, despite my and others’ calling out of them on Twitter. Talk about being asleep at the wheel. The Texas Tribune should be recognized for carrying the livestream.
Thanks for this recap. How thrilling it must have been to be there in person! I have been saddened to learn that exactly none of my friends knew about this as it was happening. But, then again, only a few use Twitter. I was also able to “participate” from Florida, if even just a tiny bit, by sending my story to Wendy. What a woman!
One of your best blogs ever. Except for the open letter to Proctor and Gamble–still a classic, in my book.
Did you know that the battle for the Alamo lasted 13 days? In 1836 the Heroes of Texas stood off the foreign invaders. 177 years later a true Hero stood for 13 hours to defend the rights of Texas Women – the rally call in 1836 was Remember the Alamo! The 2013 version is Remember Wendy!!!
I’ve known you for many many years and have been proud of and in awe of you for so many different reasons so many different times. This blog, and what you did, just makes me bust with pride that I get to call you friend. What a great example you are for your sons!! You truly make me weep with pride Wendi!!! xxxooo
Wow. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and I fought to be treated equally. I keep hoping my daughter will grow up in a more evolved world….but shit like this just keeps making that hope fade.
I applaud Ms.Davis for standing up and you for showing up.
“I do not wish [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” ~Mary Wollstonecraft
A great day for Texas! Thank you for being there to represent.
Beautifully written. Thank you for being there.
When this happened I shed tears of pride and I’m doing it again reading your excellent recap. #mybodymyducts
[…] first-person account of the events Tuesday […]
Hell to the yes. When the marginalized find their voices, it’s really, really hard to shut them up again. Witness: civil rights, gay rights, women’s rights…witness: Arab Spring, Taksim Square, Brazil. If enough of us believe that one voice can make a difference, then…one voice can make a difference.
Plus I just have to ask: first, what is “accurate intercourse?” Because I think I’ve had a lot of INaccurate intercourse (especially in college, but that’s a story for another day), but accurate? Hmm. Is there a tarjay on my vajayjay? You Wendies– you are some bad-ass blondes, is what.
My husband is addicted to inaccurate intercourse. And possibly inappropriately legitimate intercourse.
I’m glad you went, glad you got to witness it all firsthand. How empowering it must have felt. And you’re right; we all have a voice. If we don’t use it, someone else will try to keep it quiet.
Here in Europe this was but a footnote in the news, I’m having a hard time making it clear to my non-american-news following friends that this is in fact a major event.
So congratulations!
Wendy totally rocks!
Thank you, Thank you for going, Thank you for writing, Thank you for telling me (and the rest of the world) that David wins sometimes. Thank you for your even keeled words and I wish I could come all those miles to join you and those ladies in orange.
Wow. How amazing that must have been to witness and take part of democracy in action! I wish I had been there too.
This was the first time in a looong time that I have been a proud Texan when it comes to our state’s terribly embarrassing backwards political nonsense.
Thanks for this post. I’m off to have some really awesome inaccurate intercourse now.
[…] addition, a very special post written by Wendi Aarons that details her experience of witnessing Senator Wendy Davis’ filibuster in person was engrossing and […]
I’m very disheartened by this upcoming special session, but now I’m inspired to look at it more positively. As in there’s no way women (and men) here will let that go down. I just need to brush up in my US government to find out what happens next. Thanks for being there.
Also, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Wendy and Wendi are both blonde. You have pink running shoes, right?
Thanks for this re-cap. Heard it on the news, but nice to get a more personal re-telling. Wendy is an amazing woman….along with all of those who came to support her. No longer will I think of Texas woman as bow-heads. Ok, there still are lots out there, but clearly there are some mighty strong ones there too.
[…] Malala wasn’t shot because she was a human trying to go to school but because she was a girl; Wendy Davis stood for eleven hours in the Texas capitol because someone had to speak for all the women whose autonomy has just been […]