International - October 2, 2021

Abortion rights march: Thousands attend rallies across US

abrempongradiogh October 2, 2021

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Tens of thousands of people have been holding rallies across all 50 US states in support of abortion rights.

They have been galvanized in opposition to a new Texas law that severely limits access to abortions in the state.

Pro-choice supporters across the country fear that constitutional rights may be rolled back.

In the coming months, the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could overturn Roe v Wade – the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

In Washington DC, demonstrators marched to the Supreme Court building, holding signs such as “Make abortion legal”.

In New York state, Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at two rallies.

“I’m sick and tired of having to fight over abortion rights,” she said. “It’s settled law in the nation and you are not taking that right away from us, not now not ever”.

Another of the rallies was in Austin, Texas, where the state’s legislature on 1 September enacted a law banning terminations after the detection of what anti-abortion campaigners call a foetal heartbeat – a point when many women do not know they are pregnant.

The so-called Heartbeat Act also gives any individual the right to sue doctors who perform an abortion past the six-week point. Supporters say its aim is to protect the unborn.

Politicians in several other Republican-dominated states are considering similar restrictions.

Rights groups asked the Supreme Court to block the Texas law, but the justices ruled 5-4 against granting this.