Democratic members of Texas’s Senate and House of Representatives have begun to rally their supporters in preparation for a fight against the restrictive abortion bill passed by the Senate on Saturday.
The bill passed the Senate in a 19-11 vote after being approved by the House on Wednesday. The law now only needs to be signed by Governor Rick Perry, who has expressed great support for the bill.
“Today the Texas Legislature took its final step in our historic effort to protect life,” said Perry according to USA Today. “This legislation builds on the strong and unwavering commitment we have made to defend life and protect women's health.”
Democrats promised to fight the bill at the ballot box and in the courts as approximately 2,000 protesters gathered in the Capitol building. State troopers removed six people from the Senate chamber for disrupting debate.
Only one Democratic senator voted for the legislation.
Democratic Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth), pictured voting above, gained national attention only weeks ago after filibustering the bill for 11 hours, allowing the special session to expire and preventing the Senate from passing the legislation.
Perry then called another special session so the state’s Congress could vote on the bill, reports the Washington Post.