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WATCH: Gov. Perry Says Abortion Protesters Made Him Call 2nd Special Session

Texas Governor Rick Perry's office
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Flickr

Gov. Rick Perry had some harsh words Thursday for pro-choice protesters and state Sen. Wendy Davis, the Fort Worth Democrat whose 10-hour filibuster helped kill a bill restricting abortions.

KERA’s Shelley Kofler reports from the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas that Perry said the crowd at the Capitol “hijacked the democratic process.” Here's a video of his speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dfi4WFIraE

He says protesters’ unruly behavior is what caused him to call a second special session, which starts Monday. He’s again asking lawmakers to pass a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy -- along with a transportation bill and a new sentencing law for some 17-year-old offenders.

The governor also took a swipe at Davis. "Even the woman  who filibustered the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances," Perry said, adding, "It's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example, that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential, and that every life matters."

After Perry spoke, Davis issued a written statement: "Rick Perry’s statement is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds. They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view. Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test.”

The governor says he expects Texas in this next special session to become the 10th state to pass a ban on abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Courtney Collins has been working as a broadcast journalist since graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2004. Before coming to KERA in 2011, Courtney worked as a reporter for NPR member station WAMU in Washington D.C. While there she covered daily news and reported for the station’s weekly news magazine, Metro Connection.