Democracy Has Prevailed.

July 11, 2013

Video Of The Day (What Passes For Freedom/Democracy/Free Speech In Texas)

From ThinkProgress:
Thousands of Texans have rallied against the restrictive bill that would criminalize abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and shut down most abortion clinics in the state. One activist, a 28-year-old Texas woman named Sarah Slamen, delivered a powerful speech against the legislation during a hearing on Monday. However, she was soon interrupted mid-sentence by the senators, and hauled out of the room by several state troopers.
And here's what she said before her speech was cut off:
I will thank you, though, first. It was destiny that you would discriminate against us and try to force your way inside the bodies of Texas women. Thank you! For finally working against women so publicly, and not in the shadows like you’re used to. Thank you for every single bad press conference with your bad information. Thank you for every hateful statement degrading women and girls to sex objects, and brood mares, and bald eagles, and leather wallets, like your eloquent pro-life supporters have done today.

Thank you for being you, Texas legislature. You have radicalized hundreds of thousands of us. And no matter what you do for the next 22 days, women and their allies are coming for you. Let’s start down the line. Senator Campbell, you’re an ophthalmologist. So I won’t be making you the expert on reproductive health. We can give you all the children with chlamydia and herpes in their eyes, since we don’t have Sex Ed in this state.
And the video:


When she was first challenged by a member of the committee, she's heard to say, "This is my government, I will judge you!"

Imagine the outcry if a Tea Partier had been so forcibly ejected from a similar hearing.  Or a pro-life advocate.

By the way Slamen was on Lawrence O'Donnell explaining her testimony:

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See what passes for freedom in Texas these days.