Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Yet another hero emerges from the resistance to the Christian Taliban's war on women in the Republic of Texas Gilead. We need more people like Sarah Slamen who are fearless and willing to speak truth to power. Ann Richards and Molly Ivins would be proud of this fearless Texan woman. Texas woman pulled off Senate floor after fiery testimony against abortion bill:
Sarah Slamen left her home in central Texas at 5:30 a.m. Monday to
testify at the Austin Senate against the state’s controversial abortion
bill. She didn’t get to speak until 11:00 pm that night, after listening
to hours of what she described
as a “parade of anti-choice zealots and misogynists.” By the time she
was called, Slamen had scrapped her prepared speech about Gov. Rick
Perry’s sister’s ties to surgical centers and doctor-owned hospitals that would benefit from the bill’s passage, and went for the senators themselves.
“Thank you for being you, Texas legislature,” Slamen said. “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.”
Video below the fold.
(Transcript via LaFeminista at Daily Kos below).
Before she could finish her one-by-one take down of the Senate
committee, Slamen was forcibly escorted from the chamber. When asked why
she was removed in an interview with the Daily Kos,
Slamen said, “There was no explanation. Senator Jane Nelson tried to
say I was being disrespectful but how would she know? I barely got to
give the complete performance review of every member on the committee.”
The Texas bill–SB1/HB2–which limits where and when women can get an abortion in the state, passed the state House on Tuesday, and is expected to be voted on by the Senate early next week.
Outside the committee chamber, Slamen was greeted by dozens of sympathizers cheering and applauding her testimony.
Sarah Slamen was the guest interview on MSNBC's The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell on Wednesday night.
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Transcript with thanks to LaFeminista at Daily Kos:
Sarah: Thank you, Chair Committee, my name is Sarah
[Lastname]. I’m a constituent of Senator Whitmire. I’m here to testify
against SB1, because I’m tired of Republican primary politics, misogyny,
and greed dominating the state I was born, raised, and schooled in.And you know, I had some really eloquent remarks written out, but you
guys have just worn me down all day. With all this terrible science,
and glad-handing, and to be frankI get to move to New York next month,
so I don’t have to live in fear of you Texas legislators anymore and
what you’re going to do to my education system, or my healthcare system,
‘cause I’m going to a state that doesn’t kill its own inmates. That’s
how pro-life it is, up there.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 publically,
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 Senator Hegar, you are about as helpful —Senator Jane Nelson: [strikes gavel] I will not allow —Sarah: Excuse me. This is my government, ma’am. I will judge you.
[speaking overSenator Nelson trying to interrupt] I will judge you,
ma’am. Is this counting against my time —Senator Jane Nelson: Yes, it is.Sarah: — the senator talking against me?Senator Jane Nelson: Yes, it is. Yes, it is.Sarah: OK, well I will just go ahead —Senator Jane Nelson: I will not allow you to disrespect —Sarah: — and talk over her. This is how big of a fraud I knew you
were, for being so proud of these proceedings all night. It’s a low bar
that you hold yourself to that you [One State Trooper appears in
background.] simply ALLOWED us to SPEAK.And I will speak against an ophthalmologist [Two State Troopers grab
her chair.] who says – [Two State Troopers grab her arms. Sarah leans
forward to keep speaking.]Everyone on the internet can see what you’re
doing right now. This is a farce. The Texas legislature is a bunch of
liars [Third State Trooper comes forward to grab her.] who hate women.
These men are paid off —Senator Jane Nelson: Our next witness is Gary Oldham.Sarah: [illegible] so they can tell us what to do with the inside of our bodies.