The Virginia House was scheduled to vote today on the unbelievably insane Republican bill that would make it compulsory for women seeking abortions to first be penetrated by a vaginal ultrasound probe, but after this demonstration developed they decided to postpone the vote: Silent Protest Outside, Virginia House Puts Off Ultrasound Vote.

What appears to be a crowd of several hundred people gathered today at the Virginia state capitol. Standing silently in the cold, they lined the walkway used by the legislators who have been voting on — and voting away — women’s rights in Virginia.

From their Facebook page:

The Capitol ground rules say that we cannot assemble, hold signs, chant, yell or protest. We think silence in the face of this struggle and their unconstitutional rules presents the strongest response to their assault on women. Please come out and stand up for our rights and for the rights of all women in VA to choose the best reproductive route for themselves. These people are used to signs, yelling, chanting etc. It is not new. They are not used to silently being stared at and having to look us in the eye. It gives us the power.

A new poll out today from the Christopher Newport University and the Richmond Times-Dispatch shows Virginia’s Republican majority to the right of Virginians. About 55 percent of them say they don’t like the measure that would require women seeking an abortion to first undergo a medically unnecessary transvaginal ultrasound. The Richmond paper reports the House was to vote on the bill today, but its patron chose instead to hold off for the day.