Even louder screaming from the gallery as the clock strikes midnight. #SB5 #txlege
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) June 26, 2013
Over 150k watching #txlege #sb5 @WendyDavisTexas on @YouTube. Awesome to hear audience filibustering with applause: https://t.co/OGA7zKaR4C
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) June 26, 2013
No, not “awesome” and not just polite “applause.” More like screams, shouts, stomping, and tantrums. As the Texas Democrats’ stalling tactics ran dry and the clock neared midnight, protesters and sit-in participants in the Lone Star State’s capitol building turned up the mob noise. Supporters of pro-abortion legislator Wendy Davis’s filibuster of S.B. 5 — which would restrict most abortions past 20 weeks in a bid to stop the next butchering Kermit Gosnell — issued explicit calls for undemocratic disruption of civil order.
Here’s what one Texas Teamster advocated:
They are voting right now! Only way to stop it is total chaos. Gotta rush the floor.
— Eric Heggie (@EricHeggie) June 26, 2013
Shoulda rushed the floor. Only way to have stopped it.
— Eric Heggie (@EricHeggie) June 26, 2013
Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards egged them on, too:
#TXlege gallery: Make some noise — louder! #SB5 #StandWithWendy
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) June 26, 2013
Video:
more Video from @KD5MDK : #txlege not getting order #standwithwendy #sb5 http://t.co/qQUhLq2Tga
— Hibernating for the duration (@MarnaNightingal) June 26, 2013
Others echoed the “rush the floor” sentiment:
Recommended
https://twitter.com/DKinAU/status/349751992131919872
#txlege #sb5 #Standwithwendy RT @ericheggie: They can do a vote with ppl yelling. Rush the floor and do a sit in. Will screw this all up.
— cait (@cameracait) June 26, 2013
Prediction: The crowd is about to take over this process and the volume is about to be cut off the floor feed. #txlege
— TDCAA (@TDCAA) June 26, 2013
https://twitter.com/amatae2002/status/349752825485594624
https://twitter.com/Reaganomics3/status/349759869122904064
Absurd disrespect for democracy. People are acting like animals. Awful. #txlege
— Tyler Norris (@TXTylerNorris) June 26, 2013
@TXTylerNorris Of course. They think if they yell loudly enough, they'll get their way. @MelissaTweets
— Taxpayer1234 ?????? (@Taxpayers1234) June 26, 2013
@sunnyright Only thing missing is their self righteous demands that Republicans be more civil.
— RoryMiller (@RorySMiller) June 26, 2013
Have seen nothing like this in #txlege in 22 years. Not even close. Waiting for someone to yell "Attica."
— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) June 26, 2013
The pro-abortion crowd turned The Texas Senate chamber "Occupy Wall Street"
— Bill Zedler (@Bill_Zedler) June 26, 2013
In the aftermath of the screamfest, confusion ensued. Reporters and legislators could not agree whether the final vote took place before midnight or whether adjournment (sine die) had occurred.
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349760470921658368
SB 5 finally passes 19-12!! Right on time. What a crazy way to end the special session!
— Matt Krause (@RepMattKrause) June 26, 2013
Sorry about that last post – a bit premature. No one seems to know what was or wasn't passed in final minutes. Waiting on final word.
— Matt Krause (@RepMattKrause) June 26, 2013
That last tweet a bit premature. No one seems to know for sure. Sorry. will update ASAP. RT @Joe_LaRue: @MelissaTweets @DLoesch @chiproytx
— Matt Krause (@RepMattKrause) June 26, 2013
#SB5 passed before midnight but we were prevented from passing impt transportation funds and new justice bill. Democrats should be ashamed.
— Bob Deuell (@bobdeuell) June 26, 2013
There's still no consensus in the reporting on what happened. #txlege
— lizbuddie (@lizbuddie) June 26, 2013
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349763754717749248
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349763924222156801
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349763432943333376
You'd Think. RT@finchfrii: It was on video. Shouldn't instant replay clear this up? #txlege #sb5
— ℝ?????? (@Rashona) June 26, 2013
https://twitter.com/MatthewKeysLive/status/349771219496755200
https://twitter.com/lewandowskijohn/status/349773742144098304
Apparently Texas Republicans can't tell time. If you're going to pass a bill, do it within the rules #SB4 #txlege
— Nathan Inks (@ndinks) June 26, 2013
It'll be interesting to see what the courts do, as usually they leave parliamentary issues up to the legislature #SB5 #txlege
— Nathan Inks (@ndinks) June 26, 2013
To quote the hit Robin Thicke song, there were plenty of Blurred Lines:
https://twitter.com/mrglenn/status/349757443124887552
You can say that again:
Mob rule is not democracy. Just sayin'.
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) June 26, 2013
Parliamentary procedure exists for a reason… shouting in the gallery of the Senate chambers is not the way to express opposition to #sb5
— Nathan Inks (@ndinks) June 26, 2013
Punches are flying now:
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349757757055975425
Arrests:
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349757389689466880
The Democrats give thanks:
Democratic Senators addressing crowd with thanks and promises of an answer in 2014. #txlege #standwithwendy pic.twitter.com/HNsmoLy77L
— Joe Deshotel (@joethepleb) June 26, 2013
As the dust settles in the wee hours of the morning, a picture’s worth a thousand words. Let this voice rise above all the anti-S.B 5 screamers:
I am almost 21 weeks pregnant. This is what my baby looked like last week. Elective late term abortion = murder. pic.twitter.com/mogkq9bPZ7
— Its Just Me (@oicStars) June 26, 2013
Indeed:
https://twitter.com/AndrewCQuinn/status/349761373774942210
Final verdict on whether the vote took place in time:
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349801028931174400
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349801780403646467
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349801962520322048
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349802255895105537
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349803701650731008
https://twitter.com/mikestatesman/status/349804207848685568
Twitchy will continue to monitor and update as news develops.