Protestors march through London against abortion ban in Texas
Hundreds of protestors march through London in demonstration against abortion ban in Texas
- Thousands of demonstrators marched through Trafalgar Square in London for Abortion Rights campaign rally
- March came after new rules introduced by the state of Texas banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy
- US law introduced last month allows any private citizen to sue Texas abortion providers who violate the rule
Hundreds of demonstrators descended upon the streets of London today in solidarity with protesters in the US opposing the abortion ban in Texas.
Activists marched through Trafalgar Square as they attended the Abortion Rights campaign’s rally after new rules introduced by the state of Texas last month banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
The law in the US allows any private citizen to sue Texas abortion providers who violate the law, as well as anyone who ‘aids or abets’ a woman getting the procedure.
The statute, which survived a Supreme Court challenge, sets minimum damages of $10,000 per banned abortion, to be paid out to the private citizen who sues another person who may have in some way helped make an abortion possible.
Demonstrators descended marched through Trafalgar Square in central London today as they attended the Abortion Rights campaign’s rally
Activists took to the streets with placards and banners after new rules introduced by the state of Texas last month banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy
Hundreds of protesters walked through central London in solidarity with protesters in the US opposing the abortion ban in Texas
Abortion patients themselves cannot be sued, but the ‘aiding and abetting’ clause is broad, and might even apply to a cab driver who knowingly takes a woman to get a banned abortion.
By handing off enforcement to private citizens, Texas avoided the legal pitfalls that doomed similar efforts in other states – but critics say that the move amounts to a hack of the legal system.
Today, demonstrators took to the streets of London with placards and banners in solidarity with those fighting for abortion rights in the US state.
Known as the Heartbeat Act, the Texas law bans abortions after ultrasounds can detect a foetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks and before many women even know they are pregnant.
The abortion ban makes medical exceptions to save the life of the mother, but allows no exemptions for cases of rape or incest.
The new law allows anyone to bring a suit against abortion providers, regardless of whether they have been personally harmed.
Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott denied that Texas’s restrictive new abortion law would force rape or incest victims to carry their pregnancies to term because women have ‘at least six weeks’ to get a termination.
At a bill signing for the state’s new election security legislation, a reporter asked Abbott why the state would ‘force’ victims of sex crimes like rape and incest to give birth.
A woman walks through central London with a sign which reads: ‘This is America: Forced pregnancy, Government-mandated, citizen-enforced.’
Hundreds of people took to the streets of London today after a new law in the US state of Texas allowed any private citizen to sue Texas abortion providers who ‘aid or abet’ a woman getting an abortion
Protesters hold placards as they march through Trafalgar Square during a rally held by the Abortion Rights campaign
Demonstrators take to the streets after the the Heartbeat Act in the Texas law banned abortions after ultrasounds can detect a foetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks
Demonstrators hold signs as they walk though the capital in support of those protesting against the abortion ban in the US state
A group of demonstrators walk through central London today with a sign reading: ‘For a woman’s right to choose’
Activists stand in solidarity with those fighting for abortion rights in Texas after the state allowed any private citizen to sue Texas abortion providers who violate the law
‘It doesn’t require that at all, because obviously it provides at least six weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion, so for one it doesn’t provide that,’ Mr Abbott replied.
‘That said, however, let’s make something very clear – rape is a crime, and Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas.’
In a White House speech President Joe Biden blasted the new law as ‘un-American’.
‘The most pernicious thing about the Texas law, it sort of creates a vigilante system where people get rewards to go out and – anyway. And it just seems – I know this sounds ridiculous – almost un-American what we’re talking about,’ he said.
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