Saturday, July 13, 2013 6:44:45 AM
Texas Woman Recounts 'Humiliation And Horror' Of Capitol Police Seizing Maxi Pads, Diabetic Supplies
Texas Capitol police confiscated diabetic supplies and maxi pads from Paula Chaney as she entered the building to protest an abortion bill, an experience she described as humiliating.
(Photo via AmericaBlog)
Posted: 07/12/2013 11:30 pm EDT | Updated: 07/12/2013 11:56 pm EDT
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Capitol police confiscated all kinds of items from people on Friday -- [purportedly] including jars of feces [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/texas-state-troopers-abortion-bill_n_3588904.html (see next item below)] -- as hundreds of protesters flooded the building in the final hours of a Senate debate on a controversial abortion bill.
But one woman told The Huffington Post that Capitol went as far as to take away food she carried to help with her diabetes and to very publicly confiscate her maxi pads.
Paula Chaney of Georgetown, Texas, described being line at the Capitol with her friends when an officer came over to give a rundown of items not allowed in the building. She said the cop never mentioned feminine products.
"When I got to the bag check, the troopers were all acting very aggressively," Chaney said. "As a diabetic, I carry food -- both quick sugar and protein -- and I have never had any trouble taking it in anywhere when I remind the personnel involved of the protections afforded by ADA law. This time, I was told that the law didn't apply and I either lost my food or my place in line."
Chaney said the officer, who she identified as Trooper Stoner, then unzipped the personal care section of her purse, took out two purple-wrapped maxi pads and "started waving them around, much to my humiliation and horror, and said that they were not allowed in either."
Chaney said she pleaded with him, informing him that her menstrual period had started that day, but the officer accused her of being "aggressive." When she told a supervising officer that the way they were being treated was "a travesty," she said that officer marched her over to the nearest elevator, yelling the entire time, and said she was welcome to leave the building. Without her maxi pads, she decided to leave.
"I am a middle-aged white woman, and not used to being treated this way by law enforcement, certainly not the DPS troopers in the Capitol," Chaney said. "I have been in and out weekly and more all session, and I have never seen anything like I have the last few days."
AmericaBlog captured a video of Chaney [ http://americablog.com/2013/07/woman-in-tears-texas-trooper-confiscates-tampons-before-entering-senate-gallery-for-abortion-vote-video.html ] moments after the ordeal, which shows her visibly upset as friends comfort her.
Chaney and her friends were dressed in orange T-shirts, a color that represents opposition to the abortion bill. People in support of the bill wore blue shirts. Chaney said she noticed that people in blue shirts in line weren't being searched as closely as she and her friends, and said those people were allowed to bring things into the Senate gallery that she and her friends were not.
"A whole lot of people are trying to shut us up," Chaney said. "This was just way over the line."
The Texas Department of Public Safety indicated earlier Friday that officers would thoroughly search everyone coming into the Capitol for articles that potentially could be thrown at lawmakers for as long as the Senate debate continues. But Stand With Texas Women later tweeted [
A DPS spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Copyright © 2013 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/texas-woman-maxi-pads_n_3589612.html [with comments]
--
Protesters Question Report on Confiscations
DPS officers confer in the galley at the start of the Senate second called special session on July 1, 2013.
photo by: Bob Daemmrich
by Shefali Luthra
July 12, 2013
The Texas Department of Public Safety said Friday that officers had discovered more than a dozen jars containing "suspected" feces and urine at the Texas Capitol, the site of an intense debate among state senators over abortion restrictions.
In a press release, the agency offered scant details about the seizures and did not say where the items were taken or what happened to them, prompting abortion rights activists to express doubts about the official account.
The department said the items were found after the agency received information [yeah, bullshit] that protesters had planned to use a “variety of items or props to disrupt legislative proceedings at the Texas Capitol.”
“During these inspections, DPS officers have thus far discovered one jar suspected to contain urine, 18 jars suspected to contain feces, and three bottles suspected to contain paint,” the news release said. “All of these items — as well as significant quantities of feminine hygiene products, glitter and confetti possessed by individuals — were required to be discarded; otherwise those individuals were denied entry into the gallery.”
DPS officers outside the Senate gallery and at each entrance to the Capitol told The Texas Tribune they had not seen or found jars containing feces or urine, and multiple officers throughout the Capitol said they had not heard of any jars being found until a reporter mentioned it. Several officers also said they had not heard anything on the DPS radio system about jars of any excrement.
On social media and in interviews, abortion rights protesters questioned the report, calling it an attempt by DPS to bolster Republican credibility during a contentious debate that has drawn national attention.
The office of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst referred questions about the seizure back to the DPS. The agency’s press office pointed to the news release and said it would not elaborate beyond that.
Sandie Haverlah, an Austin-based abortion rights activist, cast doubt on the assertion by the agency.
“There are hundreds of people out there posting everything they see on Twitter and Facebook," she said. "Certainly, out of 18 or 19 jars of this, a person would have put this out there. Even if you’re wearing a blue shirt, wouldn’t you post it? No one has said a word.”
Here's the text of the DPS press release:
"AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today received information that individuals planned to use a variety of items or props to disrupt legislative proceedings at the Texas Capitol.
Therefore for safety purposes, DPS recommended to the Texas Senate that all bags be inspected prior to allowing individuals to enter the Senate gallery, which the Texas Senate authorized.
During these inspections, DPS officers have thus far discovered one jar suspected to contain urine, 18 jars suspected to contain feces, and three bottles suspected to contain paint. All of these items – as well as significant quantities of feminine hygiene products, glitter and confetti possessed by individuals – were required to be discarded; otherwise those individuals were denied entry into the gallery.
In the interest of the safety and security of Texas legislators and the general public, these inspections will continue until the conclusion of Senate business."
(Jay Root contributed reporting.)
© 2013 The Texas Tribune
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/12/protesters-question-dps-report-confiscations/ [with comments]
Texas Capitol police confiscated diabetic supplies and maxi pads from Paula Chaney as she entered the building to protest an abortion bill, an experience she described as humiliating.
(Photo via AmericaBlog)
Posted: 07/12/2013 11:30 pm EDT | Updated: 07/12/2013 11:56 pm EDT
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Capitol police confiscated all kinds of items from people on Friday -- [purportedly] including jars of feces [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/texas-state-troopers-abortion-bill_n_3588904.html (see next item below)] -- as hundreds of protesters flooded the building in the final hours of a Senate debate on a controversial abortion bill.
But one woman told The Huffington Post that Capitol went as far as to take away food she carried to help with her diabetes and to very publicly confiscate her maxi pads.
Paula Chaney of Georgetown, Texas, described being line at the Capitol with her friends when an officer came over to give a rundown of items not allowed in the building. She said the cop never mentioned feminine products.
"When I got to the bag check, the troopers were all acting very aggressively," Chaney said. "As a diabetic, I carry food -- both quick sugar and protein -- and I have never had any trouble taking it in anywhere when I remind the personnel involved of the protections afforded by ADA law. This time, I was told that the law didn't apply and I either lost my food or my place in line."
Chaney said the officer, who she identified as Trooper Stoner, then unzipped the personal care section of her purse, took out two purple-wrapped maxi pads and "started waving them around, much to my humiliation and horror, and said that they were not allowed in either."
Chaney said she pleaded with him, informing him that her menstrual period had started that day, but the officer accused her of being "aggressive." When she told a supervising officer that the way they were being treated was "a travesty," she said that officer marched her over to the nearest elevator, yelling the entire time, and said she was welcome to leave the building. Without her maxi pads, she decided to leave.
"I am a middle-aged white woman, and not used to being treated this way by law enforcement, certainly not the DPS troopers in the Capitol," Chaney said. "I have been in and out weekly and more all session, and I have never seen anything like I have the last few days."
AmericaBlog captured a video of Chaney [ http://americablog.com/2013/07/woman-in-tears-texas-trooper-confiscates-tampons-before-entering-senate-gallery-for-abortion-vote-video.html ] moments after the ordeal, which shows her visibly upset as friends comfort her.
Chaney and her friends were dressed in orange T-shirts, a color that represents opposition to the abortion bill. People in support of the bill wore blue shirts. Chaney said she noticed that people in blue shirts in line weren't being searched as closely as she and her friends, and said those people were allowed to bring things into the Senate gallery that she and her friends were not.
"A whole lot of people are trying to shut us up," Chaney said. "This was just way over the line."
The Texas Department of Public Safety indicated earlier Friday that officers would thoroughly search everyone coming into the Capitol for articles that potentially could be thrown at lawmakers for as long as the Senate debate continues. But Stand With Texas Women later tweeted [
] that police had stopped confiscating tampons and maxi pads, at the urging of Democratic Sen. Kirk Watson.Thanks to @kirkpwatson for getting DPS to stop confiscating tampons. Tampons now allowed at TX Capitol #standwithTXwomen #txlege #hb2
— StandwithTexasWomen (@TX_Women) July 12, 2013
A DPS spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Copyright © 2013 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/texas-woman-maxi-pads_n_3589612.html [with comments]
--
Protesters Question Report on Confiscations
DPS officers confer in the galley at the start of the Senate second called special session on July 1, 2013.
photo by: Bob Daemmrich
by Shefali Luthra
July 12, 2013
The Texas Department of Public Safety said Friday that officers had discovered more than a dozen jars containing "suspected" feces and urine at the Texas Capitol, the site of an intense debate among state senators over abortion restrictions.
In a press release, the agency offered scant details about the seizures and did not say where the items were taken or what happened to them, prompting abortion rights activists to express doubts about the official account.
The department said the items were found after the agency received information [yeah, bullshit] that protesters had planned to use a “variety of items or props to disrupt legislative proceedings at the Texas Capitol.”
“During these inspections, DPS officers have thus far discovered one jar suspected to contain urine, 18 jars suspected to contain feces, and three bottles suspected to contain paint,” the news release said. “All of these items — as well as significant quantities of feminine hygiene products, glitter and confetti possessed by individuals — were required to be discarded; otherwise those individuals were denied entry into the gallery.”
DPS officers outside the Senate gallery and at each entrance to the Capitol told The Texas Tribune they had not seen or found jars containing feces or urine, and multiple officers throughout the Capitol said they had not heard of any jars being found until a reporter mentioned it. Several officers also said they had not heard anything on the DPS radio system about jars of any excrement.
On social media and in interviews, abortion rights protesters questioned the report, calling it an attempt by DPS to bolster Republican credibility during a contentious debate that has drawn national attention.
The office of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst referred questions about the seizure back to the DPS. The agency’s press office pointed to the news release and said it would not elaborate beyond that.
Sandie Haverlah, an Austin-based abortion rights activist, cast doubt on the assertion by the agency.
“There are hundreds of people out there posting everything they see on Twitter and Facebook," she said. "Certainly, out of 18 or 19 jars of this, a person would have put this out there. Even if you’re wearing a blue shirt, wouldn’t you post it? No one has said a word.”
Here's the text of the DPS press release:
"AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today received information that individuals planned to use a variety of items or props to disrupt legislative proceedings at the Texas Capitol.
Therefore for safety purposes, DPS recommended to the Texas Senate that all bags be inspected prior to allowing individuals to enter the Senate gallery, which the Texas Senate authorized.
During these inspections, DPS officers have thus far discovered one jar suspected to contain urine, 18 jars suspected to contain feces, and three bottles suspected to contain paint. All of these items – as well as significant quantities of feminine hygiene products, glitter and confetti possessed by individuals – were required to be discarded; otherwise those individuals were denied entry into the gallery.
In the interest of the safety and security of Texas legislators and the general public, these inspections will continue until the conclusion of Senate business."
(Jay Root contributed reporting.)
© 2013 The Texas Tribune
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/12/protesters-question-dps-report-confiscations/ [with comments]
Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
F6
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