Supreme Court clears controversial Texas abortion ban to come into effect



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The Supreme Court will move forward with a controversial ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy that is expected to go into effect on September 1.

The American Civil Liberties Union confirmed the news Tuesday night.

The Supreme Court has not responded to our urgent demand to block Texas’ sweeping new 6-week abortion ban, SB8. The law is now in effect. Access to almost all abortions comes from “be cut for millions of people. The impact will be immediate and devastating,” the ACLU tweeted. “The law prohibits abortion as early as six weeks pregnant – before many people even know they are pregnant. The result is that many Texans will be forced to carry pregnancies against their will.”

The law, Senate Bill 8, said to be one of the toughest in the country, also allows individuals to sue anyone who helps a woman get abortion services and in turn receive at least $ 10,000. damages per proceeding.

Monday abortion providers appeal to court for an immediate emergency injunction blocking the law while legal challenges continue. They say the Texas restrictions would “immediately and catastrophically” limit access to abortion for 85% of patients and force many clinics across the state to close.

Judge Samuel Alito, who oversees federal court cases for the 5th Circuit, which includes Texas, gave the state until 5 p.m. Tuesday to present his case for dismissing the claim. He could decide on his own or send the case back to the full court for a vote.

“In less than two days, Texas politicians will have effectively overturned Roe v. Wade,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which leads the challenges to Texas law.

“Patients will have to travel out of state – in the midst of a pandemic – to receive constitutionally guaranteed health care. And many will not be able to afford it. It is cruel, unacceptable and illegal, ”she said.

The ACLU said that by allowing anyone to sue someone they believe performs an abortion or helps someone access an abortion after six weeks, the law “actively encourages individuals to act as than bounty hunters by awarding them at least $ 10,000 if they are successful.

“This is a disaster of racial and economic justice. Decades of racism and structural inequality within the healthcare system have left blacks and Latinxes and all those who try to make ends meet with little money. ‘alternatives to the cruel reality that Texas politicians have created,’ the organization added. “This is a large-scale attack on patients, our healthcare providers and our support systems. This abortion ban is patently unconstitutional. We will not stop fighting while it is in effect. will not be blocked. “

Texas attorneys said abortion providers lack the legal capacity to preemptively challenge the law because it had not yet come into force or had no impact on their patients or services. .

Texas is one of 13 states that have laws prohibiting abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy; legal challenges have so far prevented everything from entering into force.

SB 8 clearly goes against the Supreme Court precedent in Roe v. Wade from 1973 and asserted in Planned Parenthood v. Casey of 1992, who established that state restrictions on abortion before a fetus can be viable outside the womb are unconstitutional.

“SCOTUS could very well be on the verge of a functional end to legal abortion in Texas and hopes no one notices,” Kate Shaw, ABC News legal analyst and Cardozo law professor, said in an article on Twitter.

The court is expected to reconsider its precedents later this fall in greatest case of abortion rights appear before the judges in years. The case, which is out of Mississippi, will determine whether all pre-viability abortion bans are unconstitutional or whether a new standard needs to be enforced.

In a statement Tuesday night, Texas advocates and health care providers condemned the abortion ban.

“The hypocrisy of adopting Texas SB8 is that it was passed on a life-saving or life-enhancing principle by a legislature predominantly ruled by white males that places no value on life,” he said. said Marsha Jones, executive director of the Afiya Center.

“Over the past decade, the Texas legislature has passed many racist, classist and dangerous restrictions on abortion that have made it very difficult to access care,” said Kamyon Conner, executive director of Texas Equal Access. Fund. “SB 8 essentially bans abortions and codifies bullying, which will have the most impact on communities already struggling to access health care.”

“It’s a dark day in Texas. Politicians are supposed to put aside partisan differences for the common good, but Abbott has led Texas politicians to an extreme path for personal gain,” said Carisa Lopez, political director. from the Texas Freedom Network. . “We know that abortion is health and education is power. It is more important than ever for us to speak openly about abortion and the need to keep medical decisions between a person and their doctor.”

Speaking to pregnant women in Texas and beyond, the ACLU wrote on Twitter that it has a network of abortion funds and support networks that “will do everything in their power to help you get the information and care you need. Go to http: // needabortion. org for more information, including how to contact an abortion fund. “



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