Texas A&M University School of Law American Constitution Society chapter presented former Texas State Senator and 2014 Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Davis presented, “Walking and Talking: Using your feet and voice to change the world.” One well known example of Davis portraying such action is in 2013 when she took the Senate floor for 11 hours in pink sneakers to filibuster an anti-abortion bill. She said her main thought behind her choice to “take a stand” was simply putting herself in other people’s shoes.

“Before I put those [pink sneakers] shoes on, I wore many others,” she said. She put herself in her mother’s shoes. ​Davis said her mother worked hard so that she and her siblings would have a chance at a bright future.

She also thought of others who took a stand. She remembered Ruby Bridges, the first black child to attend an all-white school in Louisiana, and Emma Sulkowicz, who was raped at Columbia University and carried her 50 pound mattress with her every day until she graduated.

Davis said that every law student has “the power to do something in this world.” Since the 2014 gubernatorial election, Davis has been traveling and speaking on women’s rights, particularly a new initiative that’s aimed at millennial women.

She was happy to be at T​exas A&M Law, where her former colleague and good friend Professor Meg Penrose, ​teaches. Davis and Penrose were both Senior Law Clerks for the Honorable Jerry Buchmeyer, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Penrose said she views Davis as a role model for all lawyers.

“She lives by the values our Judge instilled in us:  Justice for all – equally, tirelessly, completely,” ​Penrose said.

Davis has a mutual feeling and says Penrose helped her develop perspectives.

“Meg helped me stand in many shoes,” ​Davis said.

View Davis' presentation “Walking and Talking: Using your feet and voice to change the world,” sponsored by T​exas A&M Law's American Constitution Society student chapter.

- Article by Jennifer Nassar, Communications Specialist, Texas A&M University School of Law