PRESS RELEASE: Abortion Rights deeply concerned by Texas abortion ban

Abortion Rights is deeply concerned about the news from the US. At midnight on Wednesday, the most restrictive anti-choice law in the States came into effect in Texas.

This law, known as SB8, bans all abortions beyond 6 weeks’ gestation. At this point, most people do not even realise they are pregnant, so this is effectively a blanket ban on abortion. What’s more, the law gives members of the public the right to sue anyone who has an abortion for damages of up to $10,000.

This law will have a devastating impact on women and pregnant people in Texas, with a likely rise in unsafe abortions and many forced to undergo the trauma of continuing with an unintended pregnancy.

Abortion Rights believes SB8 sets an extremely concerning precedent for abortion law in all states. We stand in solidarity with people in Texas and across the US who are witnessing the erosion of their reproductive and human rights.

Abortion Rights’ Chair, Kerry Abel said: “I firmly believe the pro-choice majority will not go down without a fight, and we pledge our solidarity to campaigners in Texas and beyond. But this is an extremely dangerous precedent and it’s frankly dangerous to women’s health.

“It also highlights to me that we can’t be complacent in the UK, where the same activists exist close to the surface – this Saturday we are taking a stand against the US-inspired March for Life. Organisations included in the March for Life umbrella, like SPUC and CBR, hold extreme anti-abortion views in any circumstance, and will be gathering in central London. We will be there to give voice to the pro-choice majority as March for Choice.”

ENDS

Notes to Desk:

Media contact for comment and interviews: Kerry Abel, National Chair, Abortion Rights (07979 535242)
March For Choice will be taking place on Saturday September 4. We will meet at the Millicent Fawcett Statue in Parliament Square, London, at 1.30pm. Speakers will include writer Laurie Penny, Abortion Rights Chair Kerry Abel, and Dr Sonia Adesara from Doctors for Choice.
Abortion Rights is the UK pro-choice campaign, working to defend and extend abortion rights and provide a pro-choice voice to the media.
One in three women will have an abortion by the time she is 45.
In the UK, 9 in 10 people identify as pro-choice.
Please visit our website www.abortionrights.org.uk and follow us on Twitter @Abortion_Rights