Thousands rally at Texas Capitol

Senator Wendy Davis, at podium, smiles as she is introduced as the main speaker at the Stand With Texas Women Rally at State Capitol before the start of the second special session, Monday, July 1, 2013. The anti-abortion legislation rally drew thousands of supporters. To the right is Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio. less Senator Wendy Davis, at podium, smiles as she is introduced as the main speaker at the Stand With Texas Women Rally at State Capitol before the start of the second special session, Monday, July 1, 2013. The ... more Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 54 Caption Close Thousands rally at Texas Capitol 1 / 54 Back to Gallery

Texas lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday to debate abortion in a second special session called by Gov. Rick Perry.

The special session opened at 2 p.m. and recessed about a half hour later. They will reconvene July 9.

Thousands of people on both sides of the abortion debate attended rallies Monday at the Capitol.

Staff writer David Rauf offers a synopsis of what happened Monday in Austin:

The House and Senate gaveled in around 2 p.m. and worked for roughly 30 minutes.

In the House, lawmakers set a hearing for Tuesday afternoon on the anti-abortion legislation. State Rep. Byron Cook, a Republican from Coriscana and chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, said the hearing will last until about midnight.

“No one's opinion is going to be changed by the testimony," he said. "This is the third go round we've been hearing this testimony.”

The full House will not meet again until Monday, July 8.

In the Senate, a hearing on the upper chamber's catch-all anti-abortion bill was not scheduled. But the proposal, Senate Bill 1, was referred to the Health and Human Services Committee chaired by Sen. Jane Nelson.

Also, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he plans to suspend the two-thirds rule during the second special session, a move that will prevent Democrats in the minority from blocking the bill from coming up for debate. Dewhurst did away with the Senate's tradition of allowing a so-called blocker bill during the last special session because it was called specifically for redistricting — and precedent has been to suspend the two-thirds rule during special sessions called for political boundaries.

Dewhurst offered no explanation, even after being questioned by Sen. Kirk Watson, the chair of Senate Democratic Caucus.

“Apparently we're into a new tradition ... that if bills don't pass in the regular session and even if they fail to pass when rules get changed in the special session, we'll change additional traditions to try and jam them through,” Watson said.

Two Senate committees will hold hearings Tuesday on a proposal for transportation funding and one dealing with sentencing guidelines for 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder. The full Senate is adjourned until July 9.

More Information



Texas Politics blog: More updates from the second special session

--

The following is a sampling of what went on at rallies in Austin on Monday:

2:30 p.m.: Special session recesses until July 9.

1:40 p.m., Senate Gallery: As soon as the doors opened, crowds flooded into the Senate Chamber Gallery.

Some wore orange while others wore red tape over their mouths. Others, however, donned outfits from another time.

Sitting together, a group of about 15 women wore clothing from the late 1800s and early 1900s, including high skirts, long blouses, big hats, yellow sashes with “Vote for Women” printed across them and sunflowers.

Ariana Reaves, one of said women, said that although her and her friends are not apart of an organization, they decided to organize, make clothing and come to the Capitol to fight for women's rights.

“We are here to represent the suffragettes from the 1900s,” said the resident from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “Our ancestors thought they had won, but women's rights are still being fought over in 2013.”

Reaves said that women still are not fully equal in the political sphere.

“You cannot fully participate in democracy if you can't fully control your body,” she said.

Reaves, along with friends Donna Bonfield and Kara Metzger, made their clothing. Although the garb mostly is fashioned after that of the early 1900s, Metzger sported a pair of pink shoes along with her long, high-waisted dress.

She laughed as she kicked them up on her seat in the gallery. Bonfield said that the friends and other women decided to channel the suffragettes after creating a Facebook group.

“Lots of women were mad they couldn't come and be here with us,” she said.

Reaves explained that both the yellow sash and sunflowers are suffragette symbols.

1:30 p.m.: As Davis concluded her speech, the crowd quickly began to spread out.

Some headed to go through security, the lines for the side entrances meeting those for the front.

Others head home or remain on front path to socialize or sign petitions. A reminder of the rally hangs from a tree: a coat hanger that reads “Freedom to Choose. You can't limit that.”

1:20 p.m. in the Senate Gallery: Texas Department of Public Safety troopers have been stationed inside the Senate gallery as it begins to fill. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has warned that he will clear the room if he cannot keep order after the Senate convenes at 2 p.m. The troopers are outfitted with zip-tie handcuffs. During Tuesday's filibuster, outspoken protesters were removed from the gallery.

1:20 p.m. Capitol Rotunda: Men and women alike gathered in the rotunda of the Capitol to protest Monday.

Jose Orta from Taylor, Texas, came to protest the restrictive abortion bill. He said he thought it was important for men to get involved in the issue as well as women.

“I think men have to stand up as well for women's rights. We have to stand to stand up for our daughters, sisters and mothers,” he said.

Orta said he didn't like how men were making decisions and passing legislation controlling the bodies of women.

“We're standing up to draconian rules,” he said. “I don't want women to think that all men have that stance.”

Orta, originally from West Texas, said that he believes the bill would make it too hard for the women of West Texas to get abortions.

“It's already hard to travel around in West Texas,” he said. “Adding this stress for the women in West Texas will just make it too hard.”

Orta said he was especially mad at the fact that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst referred to those protesting last week as an “unruly mob.”

“This is the people's house,” he said. “I can't believe I'm 50 and we're still doing this.”

Meanwhile, as Wendy Davis walked through the Capitol's Rotunda, the crowds went wild.

Pro-choice supporters continue to chant.

“Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate!”

“The people, united, will never be defeated!”

1:10 p.m.: Those carrying “Stand with Wendy” signs literally had the chance to do so early afternoon.

Davis took the stage in front of the Capitol to chants of “Wendy, Wendy.”

“It was your voices lent to me that allowed me to stand for those 13 hours,” said Davis to applause. “I believe in Texas more than ever.”

Davis went on to address the claimed self-motivated agenda of some Texas politicians, along with her personal back story.

“I was lucky enough to make choices that worked for me,” she said.

Davis also stated a group of Texas politicians were working to reintroduce the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which was vetoed by the governor in a previous form.

Although the outcome of the current abortion legislation is in question, Davis questioned those against the bills whose predictions were bleak.

“But do you feel it,” said Davis. “We feel hope."

1:03 p.m.: Fort Worth residents Jennifer Silver-Hudnall and her 5-year-old son Daniel stood in the first floor of the rotunda at the Capitol holding signs silently as the pro-choice chanting continued.

Daniel, Jennifer's adopted son, was almost aborted at 7 months from his natural mother.

“His name is Daniel because he was in the lion's den, but he was protected,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer met Daniel's mother through an outreach ministry group, and intervened when she found out his mother planned to abort him.

“I was pro-choice until I envisioned my own child on a medical waste tray,” Jennifer said. “I brought Daniel here to give a face to the victims.

“I held his mother's hand when she delivered. He's a miracle.”

12:50 p.m.: Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, addressed the crowd in front of the Capitol.

Amongst jabs at Gov. Rick Perry, Richards emphasized Planned Parenthood wasn't going anywhere and the the fact the bills would take the state back decades.

“Texas women settled the prairies, built this state, raised our families,” said Richards, a Texan and daughter of the late Gov. Ann Richards. “We survived hurricanes, we survived tornados, and we can survive Texas legislation.”

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, also took the stage to applause.

She addressed the moment on the Senate floor where she had to raise her hand to make a comment.

“It's true, some people have problems hearing women's voices,” Van de Putte said. “For the next 30 days, make sure they hear you,” she told a roaring crowd.

12:30 p.m., in the Rotunda: Pro-choice supporters dance and chant against the bill that would reinforce restrictions on abortions in Texas.

Veronica and Rosemary Hamilton, sisters from San Diego, Calif.,, are among the leaders of the chants. The pair drove to Austin a week ago to support Wendy Davis's filibuster.

“This bill is going to kill people,” said Veronica. “When women don't have access to healthy abortions, they'll start doing unhealthy things. This is a national issue, affecting more than just Texas women.”

Veronica said the 40-hour drive from California was definitely worth it.

“This is definitely going to hit the poor hard,” Rosemary said. “And there's similar legislation being considered in other states, too. It's important to stand up to it.”

12:25 p.m.: Davis emerges to greet the crowds.

12:15 p.m.: After no sign of pro-life protesters near the main entrance thus far, people blue shirts have begun to congregate on the lawn. Some maintain a distance from the pro-choice rally, others stand a few steps away.

Troy Rother and his wife and daughter stand under a tree a few feet away from the crowd. Rother holds a sign until a fellow pro-life advocate from the San Antonio Family Association returns, which urges passersby to honk for life.

“It's about everybody's rights,” Rother said, who is not part of the association and hails from College Station. “The rights of the unborn, who are hurt more than anyone.”

“It's about better health care for women, too,” adds Jen, Troy's wife.

An elderly woman yells “honk” as she passes the sign.

Noon, Capitol, Second Floor, outside of Senate chambers: Around 50 to 80 members of the San Antonio Family Association came to the Capitol to support pro-life legislation.

“We came to represent the organization we started,” said Patrick Von Dohlen, the chairman of the organization. “This session is about the future of our state and our society. We have to protect our most vulnerable.”

Von Dohlen said he thinks it's important for men to take a stronger stand on abortion.

“It takes a man and a women to procreate,” he said. “While the woman is sharing space with the baby in the womb, the father helps make the baby. If (men) don't stand up for their unborn children, women often feel like they don't have options.”

He said he believes men should be more involved because they are 50 percent of the equation.

11:50 a.m.: As chanting against the bill continued, more and more pro-choice supporters gathered in the Rotunda of the Texas Capitol.

University of Texas at San Antonio students Kexia Nero and Samantha Burns were among the crowd.

“I we don't stand up for our rights, who will,” Nero asked.

Nero, 20, and Burns, 21, said they believe it is important as young women to stand for women's health and the right to choose when it comes to womens' bodies.

“It's our bodies,” said Burns. “I think this session is pointless. We shouldn't let other people decide to make these choices for other people's bodies.”

The two drove from San Antonio on Monday morning, arriving at the Capitol around 11.

Burns said she knows people who have had abortions.

“It's traumatizing,” she said, “but it's their choice.”

11:45 a.m.: Chants of “Wendy, Wendy” come from the main stage as Bright Lights Social Hour amps up the crowd.

In the meantime, a girl in braids holds up a handmade sign that reads “Girls Rock.” The child, Matilda Flowers, stands next to her mother, Dana Schultez and her aunt Jen Schultez.

“I brought my daughter because I wanted her to see the process happen,” Schultez said, who traveled from Fort Worth. “(We) have to (make our voice heard) in politics.”

Schultez said she attended the Day 1 events because she believes the bill affects her and her daughter's personal rights as women.

“This is not about infanticide,” Schultez said.

Around 11:30 a.m.: Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks sings “Not Ready to Make Nice” on the steps of the Capitol.

10:58 a.m.: Pro- life supporters gathered on the second floor of the Capitol as the leader of the pro-life organization Austin Bound4LIFE, Thomas Umstattd, spoke to the crowd.

“The eyes of the nation are on Texas right now,” said Umstattd. “People have come from all over the nation to pray to God for one purpose: to save life.”

As he continued his speech, pro-life gatherers clapped as pro-choice supporters yelled out over the crowd.

“When they scream, we will be quiet. They have anger but we have love,” he said.

“There are generations of Texans who are in the womb. We are here to speak for them.”

After Umstattd's speech, the crowd recited the Lord's Prayer.

Umstattd said pro-life supporters would keep a "peaceful" and "prayerful" presence over the course of the special session.

10:42 a.m.: Pro-life supporters began to gather outside the senate chamber and on the second floor of the Capitol. Many wore red tape with the word “Life” written across; some donning it on their mouths and others on the front of their shirts.

Nancy Castro, a San Antonio native, said she left as early as 5 a.m. to get to the Capitol from San Antonio.

“I knew that if I wanted to represent, that I would have to be here from the beginning,” Castro said. “I left at 5 a.m. to be here.”

Castro, who has had three abortions in the past, said it was important for her to be here to represent unborn children and let women know of the pain it leaves women with.

“When I had my abortions, I didn't realize how I would feel after,” Castro said. “No one told me. We want people to be fully informed.”

Castro began to tear up as she talked about her previous experiences with abortion. She now has two adopted children and a natural son.

“It took him a long time to forgive me,” she said. “He wanted siblings.”

“There's a pain you have to live with. We want these people to know the pain that comes with this for the woman.”

Sylvia Rodriguez, an Austin resident, also came to support the bill.

“The baby is a human life, and we're speaking for life," she said. “It goes beyond politics.”

Rodriguez also had an abortion. She now has two sons.

10:15 a.m.: The orange-clad crowd is growing in front of the Capitol.

As people file in, Linda Brooks urges people over to a circle of people signing cards.

“I saw these giant cards at H-E-B and I thought, great,” she said.

Amongst the names of senators and representatives receiving the cards are state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and state Sen. Wendy Davis, of whom Brooks is a constituent.

“(We) want to thank the people who are working so hard on their constituents' behalf, and (people) can't always do that,” said Brooks, who lives in Arlington.

Brooks plans to deliver the cards to offices this evening.

9:45 a.m., just outside the Capitol: As men roll a cart filled with water down the path leading from the Capitol, Natalie Atwater stands serenely by a red pull cart. A sign propped up reads “the people's food.”

“I was here last week and it was very energy-taxing,” said Atwater, an Austin resident. “You don't want to leave ... to keep solidarity.”

She added she was repaying the favor to those had provided food for her.

“My body, my choice” is painted on her torso as she hands out apples, yogurt and pastries.

“I'll be here all day, all week, all month if I have to,” Atwater said.

People started gathering on the Texas Capitol Rotunda floor as early 7 this morning, ready to protest during the second special session.

Pre-rally, outside Capitol: Lainie Duro, an Austin resident, has set up her own section of the rotunda floor to be the makeshift "People's Library," where people can read pamphlets and books on women's health.

“I wanted to have an early presence," Duro said. "This is one of my days off from work and I wanted to be here if people had questions or wanted to get involved.”

In addition to the “People's Library,” Duro is helping run the “People's Filibuster.” She's taking down people's testimonials, and sending them to the face of the filibuster, Austin native Quinn Cornship.

Cornship, along with others in various areas around the Capitol, are live streaming and reading the collected testimonials. Links to the live streams can be found on riseuptx.org.

“(The various pro-choice organizations) quickly formed a community through riseuptx.org,” Duro said. “We have twitter feeds, Facebook groups and various live streams.”

Duro, a member of Occupy Austin and Unruly Mob Media, said she thought it was important for her to give a voice for the women who can't make it to the Capitol.

“I wanted to support the full spectrum of women's health,” Duro said. “I feel like this affects poor, rural women. They can't be here. I think it's important for them to be represented.”

When asked why she's a proponent of abortion, Duro laughs and answers easily.

“I have a uterus,” she said. “I'm a proponent of women listening to their bodies. I want to make sure people's health care choices are based on what they think is best.”