Coat hangers are a common prop among abortion activists, and this week’s debate in Austin, Texas, over legislation restricting abortions after 20 weeks has no shortage. We’ve already seen young children holding signs featuring coat hangers, and comedian and A Is For… co-founder Lizz Winstead urged her follows around the country to ship wire hangers to the state capital in protest. It looks like Texas House Democrats brought their own matching hangers for a photo op today, and the picture made quite an impression.
Wow. This picture of TX House Dems at the mic during today's abortion debate. With hangers. #sb1 pic.twitter.com/hDEUWxe3DV
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/MelissaHebert/status/354703776369754113
Badass “@scATX: TX Democratic Representatives on floor of House with coat hangers in their hands. #HB2 http://t.co/ZP9RIGQkW5”
— Lauren Dane is on deadline and is scarce (@laurendane) July 9, 2013
THESE LADIES WITH COATHANGERS ARE INCREDIBLE #txlege #senfroniathomsponforpresident #hb2 http://t.co/4152vRKulw
— miss ~(=^‥^)/ andry (@littles_word) July 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/tootwistedtv/status/354635728094892032
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson supplemented her presentation with a knitting needle and a bottle of turpentine, as well as her famous coat hanger brooch.
https://twitter.com/quicksilvre/status/354667449100140545
Not everyone was moved by the choice of props.
https://twitter.com/Cary_Cheshire/status/354635609198956544
"#Texas Sen. Senfronia Thompson, #Abortion is unacceptable no matter what tool is used." – @BryanKemper #Stand4Life pic.twitter.com/GkP4TWPHTW
— Americans United for Life (@AUL) July 9, 2013
Pro-lifers haven’t been above employing their own props in the debate. Texas Sen. Bob Deuell placed baby shoes on his desk during a hearing in the Senate yesterday; that move, though, earned an “OMG” rather than a “Wow” from the Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery. The subtle distinction? One’s just a prop.
@KatiePavlich The difference between the two? Baby sneakers are a prop while hangers could actually be what women turn to (again).
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 8, 2013