Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth began her filibuster at a special session of the Texas legislature. She began at 11:18 a.m. CST.
The Capitol Building rotunda and legislative gallery in very liberal Austin was flooded with supporters wearing burnt orange.
Meanwhile: Tens of thousands of people, in and out of the state of Texas, began watching the Texas Tribune live stream of the filibuster.
If you're not watching the Texas Senate Livestream you're really missing something. #StandWithWendy http://t.co/B3kZCRXLQm
TheBloggess
@TheBloggess
If you're not watching the Texas Senate Livestream you're really missing something. #StandWithWendy http://t.co/B3kZCRXLQm
Both "Wendy Davis" and "#standwithwendy" were trending globally hours before midnight in Texas.
Barack Obama's official Twitter account got over 9,000 retweets.
Something special is happening in Austin tonight: http://t.co/RpbnCbO6zw #StandWithWendy
Barack Obama
@BarackObama
Something special is happening in Austin tonight: http://t.co/RpbnCbO6zw #StandWithWendy
Texas history was being made.
Holographic Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan and Molly Ivins now hovering over Texas legislature.
pourmecoffee
@pourmecoffee
Holographic Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan and Molly Ivins now hovering over Texas legislature.
The infamous Jill Biden parody account weighed in as well.
At 12:01 AM, CT, I predict Wendy Davis will give us the best mic drop the World has ever seen. #StandWithWendy
Dr. Jill Biden
@JillBidenVeep
At 12:01 AM, CT, I predict Wendy Davis will give us the best mic drop the World has ever seen. #StandWithWendy
Certain themes began to emerge: Aaron Sorkin.
This Texas Legislature Filibuster Scene is the best thing Aaron Sorkin has ever written. #StandwithWendy
Paul Scheer
@paulscheer
This Texas Legislature Filibuster Scene is the best thing Aaron Sorkin has ever written. #StandwithWendy
Real talk though, how is Aaron Sorkin going to ruin this narrative in a few months?
Caitlin Kelly
@atotalmonet
Real talk though, how is Aaron Sorkin going to ruin this narrative in a few months?
Friday Night Lights, which was filmed in Austin, was also popular inspiration.
Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose. #standwithwendy
Aminatou Sow
@aminatou
Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose. #standwithwendy
In particular: A lot of people want Wendy Davis to be played by Connie Britton.
If Connie Britton plays Wendy Davis in the movie, the guy who played Buddy Garity has to be Kirk Watson, right? #sb5 #standwithwendy
Dan Solomon
@dansolomon
If Connie Britton plays Wendy Davis in the movie, the guy who played Buddy Garity has to be Kirk Watson, right? #sb5 #standwithwendy
Coach Taylor was also evoked.
Game of Thrones was also a very popular topic...
Even though Davis was actually wearing pink running shoes, "House Davis" bears the sign of a tall pink pump.
In Texas law, filibusters have to consist of content germane to the discussion, but that didn't stop people from wishing that Wendy could read something else.
I wish Wendy Davis was allowed to read Game of Thrones to us. #StandWithWendy
Dr. Jill Biden
@JillBidenVeep
I wish Wendy Davis was allowed to read Game of Thrones to us. #StandWithWendy
The memes started to pour in as #standwithwendy began to dominate Twitter.
Wendy Davis is the watchful protector of reproductive rights. #standwithwendy
The Night Stalker
@kolchak
Wendy Davis is the watchful protector of reproductive rights. #standwithwendy
When Sen. Davis received "three strikes" and the filibuster looked to be over, #LetHerSpeak became a trending topic as well.
Julie Klausner
@julieklausner
As the Senate debated, "germaneness" became central to the discussion.
I'd love to see rulings regarding Jermainess. http://t.co/csWQQeADx7 #buhdumbum #sb5 #standwithwendy #standwithtito
Nima Shirazi
@WideAsleepNima
I'd love to see rulings regarding Jermainess. http://t.co/csWQQeADx7 #buhdumbum #sb5 #standwithwendy #standwithtito
I'm just glad that the work of Germaine Greer is so central to the Texas Senate debate. Right?
Dave Zirin
@EdgeofSports
I'm just glad that the work of Germaine Greer is so central to the Texas Senate debate. Right?
Jokes were still flying as Texas senators endlessly debated the rules of the filibuster.
So, it turns out, if its a LEGITIMATE filibuster ... a man has a way of shutting it down. #sb5 #standwithwendy
dianagram
@dianagram
So, it turns out, if its a LEGITIMATE filibuster ... a man has a way of shutting it down. #sb5 #standwithwendy
Patton Oswalt tweeted this scene from The Bad News Bears.
View this video on YouTube
Voldemort got in on it.
Wendy Davis is a Gryffindor.
The Dark Lord
@Lord_Voldemort7
Wendy Davis is a Gryffindor.
With less than an hour to go before midnight, when the bill would be killed, Wendy was still standing.
Davis still standing as she listens to @KirkPWatson defend her efforts. Calls it the most scrutinized #filibuster.
Alana Rocha
@viaAlana
Davis still standing as she listens to @KirkPWatson defend her efforts. Calls it the most scrutinized #filibuster.
Over 137,000 people were watching the Texas Tribune live stream at this point.
With approximately 10 minutes to go, Democratic Texas Sen. Leticia Van De Putte insisted that she had not been heard over the men in the room, saying...
As the crowd in the gallery began yelling over the Senate proceedings after Van De Putte's statement, Twitter also exploded.
With five minutes to go before midnight...
No network, cable or otherwise, was showing the proceedings that had the internet enraptured.
You literally cannot produce television this riveting and no television network is showing it.
patrick muldowney
@patmuldowney
You literally cannot produce television this riveting and no television network is showing it.
CNN was discussing blueberry muffins.
History is being made in #Texas, while @CNN talks about blueberry muffins. LITERALLY. @cleveil1 @ElizSimins #sb5
Elizabeth Plank
@feministabulous
History is being made in #Texas, while @CNN talks about blueberry muffins. LITERALLY. @cleveil1 @ElizSimins #sb5
They're fattening.
With 30 seconds to go...
Although Wendy Davis was no longer speaking, #standwithwendy was still a trending topic.
what kind of chair would you want if you were wendy
Emma Carmichael
@emmacargo
what kind of chair would you want if you were wendy
Davis' Wikipedia page got an edit.
I can't stop laughing this Wendy Davis Wikipedia page edit #standwithwendy
EireannMichaelDolan
@EireannDolan
I can't stop laughing this Wendy Davis Wikipedia page edit #standwithwendy
Around 12:02 a.m. CT, the Senate took a vote and "passed" the bill, with several news outlets reporting it had gone through even though it was minutes after midnight.
What confuses Texas Republicans: 1) Women 2) Science 3) Clocks #StandWithWendy
Greg Greene
@ggreeneva
What confuses Texas Republicans:
1) Women
2) Science
3) Clocks
#StandWithWendy
Republican Sen. Robert Lloyd Duncan's Wikipedia page got an edit at this point as well.
The date stamp altering on the Texas Legislative Council's website was also widely mocked.
As late as 2:00 a.m. CT, the decision was still unclear.
Around 2:30 a.m. CT, it was announced that due to the time stamps on the Senate record, the bill was dead.
