Twitter ignites #ShePersisted as new feminist battle cry after Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced
Tuesday night, the Senate silenced Elizabeth Warren.
And by doing so, the GOP gave the already charged Democratic firebrand a hashtag to rally around in efforts to thwart the controversial nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for Attorney General.
Democrats were stunned on Wednesday evening after the Massachusetts senator was interrupted in the middle of a speech opposing Sessions (R-Alabama) in which she read a letter from Corretta Scott King -- widow of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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She was then subjected to a party-line rebuke from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that denied her from continuing the 30-page letter.
But it was McConnell's defense of the rare Senate rule that ignited a tweetstorm from liberals.
"Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech," McConnell said. "She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted."
McConnell on Warren: "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted"
Great life advice pic.twitter.com/asdIqPc3Fz— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) February 8, 2017
His words have since been cited in thousands of other tweets, many using the now popular hashtags #ShePersisted and #LetLizSpeak.
"Nevertheless, she persisted." Mitch McConnell just gave Elizabeth Warren the title of her autobiography, if not a line of T-shirts.
— David Simon (@AoDespair) February 8, 2017
“She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, #ShePersisted.” pic.twitter.com/ubZIi5rKyo
— queen badass (@calinative) February 8, 2017
Nevertheless, she persisted. pic.twitter.com/zViODM7Aha
— Mike McFeely (@McFeely_Inforum) February 8, 2017
See more reactions to McConnell's objection:
The Senate backed McConnell's ruling in a 49:43 vote to silence Warren after violating Rule XIX of the Senate which restricts senators from "directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator."
SEE ALSO: Elizabeth Warren silenced on the Senate floor after Mitch McConnell objection
In defending the motion to rebuke Warren, McConnell referenced portions of the letter King wrote in opposition to Sessions' nomination in 1986 to become a federal judge.
"Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens," King wrote addressing the Senate Judiciary Committee. "He is, I believe, a disgrace to the Justice Department and he should withdraw his nomination and resign his position."
Read the full letter by Corretta Scott King here.
