The Mizuno Wave Rider 16 gained some notoriety when it was worn by the Democratic Texas state Senator, Wendy Davis for her 12-hour filibuster of an anti-abortion law in June 2013.
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A filibuster is an obstruction tactic where the debate over a proposed piece of legislation is delayed or preventing a vote on the legislation by using lengthy discussions in the parliament. In this case Senator Wendy Davis was opposed to a bill that strengthened anti-abortion laws in Texas, so she spoke for over 11 hours to try and prevent passage of the bill. Her tactic succeeded in delaying the vote past the deadline. However, a special session was called the next day and the legislation was passed.
President Obama tweeted about the filibuster attempt:
Instead of using her usual dress high heel shoes, she wore a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider running shoes(v16). Many newspapers made headlines about the shoes she was wearing when reporting on the filibuster.
There was quite a reaction in social media to her use of the running shoes with hilarity ensuing on Amazon.com’s comments page on the Mizuno Wave Rider 16 running shoe page. For example:
The next time you have to spend 13 hours on your feet without food, water or bathroom breaks, this is the shoe for you. Guaranteed to outrun patriarchy on race day.
When I first began wearing these shoes I thought my reproductive rights were secure. Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Luckily these shoes are really great for kicking republican legislators out of office! They want to shut down reproductive and health care facilities for the poor in Texas? Use these shoes to shut down the state capital!
Whether you’re running for governor or standing up for women’s rights, these shoes really fit the bill! Standing up for 11 hours straight in a room full of men who are telling what to do with your baby-maker is no easy task. Fortunately, the Mizuno Wave Riders are always up to the challenge. They are sturdy enough to kick behind, yet classy enough to look good while doing it. I endorse these shoes!
These shoes are a danger to the republic! This is precisely the kind of technology that will enable terrorist women, terrorist gays, terrorist minorities, and other terrorist liberals to endure the long (and getting longer, just you wait) lines at the polls.
Mizuno got a boost in publicity from the shoes, with their blog post about it stating:
Media and consumers’ response via social media nearly doubled traffic to our site and lifted the Wave Rider 16 product page to be the number one viewed page
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