Thousands of people surrounded the Texas Capitol on Monday as a historic battle takes shape over women’s reproductive rights in the state – a struggle that reached epic proportions after the People’s Filibuster of the Texas Senate last week. 

The battle formally began at 2 p.m. as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) banged his gavel, signalling the start of the second special session of the 83rd Texas Legislature. But the battle lines were already drawn outside as an estimated 5,000 people expressed their support for State Senator Wendy Davis (D- Ft. Worth) and her allies in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Sen. Davis was introduced to thunderous applause and said Republicans who control the Texas government have bullied women long enough.

“We even fought for years to convenience these politicians that the best way to prevent unintended pregnancies is to give women real control of their lives by investing in good family planning services and honest effective age-appropriate sex education for our kids,” said Sen. Davis.

Republicans already reintroduced legislation for the second special session that mirrors what died during the first special session. Last week, Sen. Davis initiated what was supposed to be a 13-hour filibuster to kill Senate Bill 5. The bill would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and required all abortions to be provided in what amount to surgical centers. Critically, the bill would have put a virtual ban on abortions in most parts of the state. These are the abortion restrictions that currently lie in the hands of Texas lawmakers.

As I witnessed and reported last week, the first special session ended with yells raining down from the Senate Gallery. Republicans broke the chamber’s rules to end Sen. Davis’ filibuster. Democrats then employed a series of stall tactics. Fifteen minutes before the special session was scheduled to end at midnight — the time at which all un-passed bills are killed — Republicans called for a vote on SB 5. But the vote was derailed as hundreds of people in the gallery started yelling to stop the vote and kill SB 5. We succeeded.

“Even with all our effort in that senate chamber that day, we couldn’t quite get over the finish line," said Sen. Davis during Monday’s rally. But, "With only 20 minutes left on the clock, you, after having suffered quietly and patiently the repeated abandonment of senate rules and traditions, could be silent no longer.”

“Your voices joined together, roaring through what we all understood was a raw abuse of power to secure victory,” she said.

Governor Rick Perry reacted by calling lawmakers back to work so as to deal with not only the abortion legislation but also increased transportation funding and a new punishment for youths convicted of capital murder, because, he said, "This is simply too important a cause to allow unruly actions of a few to stand in its way."

State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D- San Antonio), who famously tried to get the attention of her male colleagues during the People’s Filibuster, told Monday’s crowd that without effective action, Republicans will continue their War on Women.

“Ladies, would you like to have your next OBGYN exam on the senate floor?" (No! the crowd responded). "There’s a reason for that… Politicians shouldn’t be making health decisions for you,” said Van de Putte.

The proposed abortion legislation follows a long and seemingly proud Texas Republican tradition of bullying women. Gov. Perry vetoed legislation passed in May that makes it easier for women to sue their employers over gender-based wage discrimination.

And two years ago, Texas Republicans — with a super majority in both houses — passed a law requiring doctors to insert “a wand-like” ultrasound device into a woman’s vagina before she receives an abortion . While Texas Republicans claim to support smaller and limited government, they have passed laws that literally intrude into a woman’s body.

What was unspoken during Monday’s rally was the huge hurdle Democrats face in stopping the passage of new, draconian abortion regulations. Republicans hold majorities in both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Gov. Perry will quickly sign the abortions bills when and if they pass the state legislatures.

However, Democrats have a tool at their disposal which is protected by the Texas Constitution: the special session, which lasts only 30 days. In short, lawmakers have 30 days to fight over bills, and whatever is not passed at the end of the session dies a sudden death.

The abortion bills are starting at the very beginning of the legislative process. They have been filed in both chambers. Beginning Tuesday, July 2, they will start being heard in committees before heading to the floor for an ultimate vote. Between the committee hearings and votes by both legislative bodies, abortion rights supporters plan to delay the bills’ advancement and get them closer to the 30-day deadline. For this reason the next 30 days will be a legislative showdown to remember.

One female held a sign at Monday’s rally with a question at the heart of the Texas abortion battle: “Why is it the only thing subject to heavy regulation in Texas is a woman’s uterus?” It is a question Texans will surely be asking themselves as Republicans' war against women rages on, and as we inch closer to the 2014 elections.