Abortion rights advocates march across US to protest restrictive laws

Women's rights advocates will join 660 marches planned around the United States on Saturday to protest against recent efforts to restrict abortion access, including a new Texas law that bans abortions after about six weeks.

In Washington, D.C., protesters will march to the U.S. Supreme Court two days before the court reconvenes for a session in which the justices will consider a Mississippi case that could enable them to overturn abortion rights established in the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case. Appointments of justices by former president Donald Trump have strengthened conservative control of the high court.

Amy Rigall and grandson Jordan participate in a rally in Austin on Saturday as part of the nationwide Women's March. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

In a 5-4 decision on Sept. 1, the justices denied a request from abortion and women's health providers to block enforcement of the near-total ban in Texas, the strictest such law in the country.

"This is kind of a break-glass moment for folks all across the country," said Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of Women's March, the main organizer of Saturday's demonstrations.

Mo Johnson speaks on a megaphone as other women's rights advocates participate in the Rally for Abortion Justice in Austin on Saturday. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)Women's rights advocates take part in the rally in Austin, Texas, on Saturday. The state recently introduced a near-total ban on abortion procedures and access to abortion-inducing medications. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

"Many of us grew up with the idea that abortion would be legal and accessible for all of us, and seeing that at very real risk has been a moment of awakening," she said.

The march is part of "a fight to secure, safeguard, and strengthen our constitutional right to an abortion … And it's a fight against the Supreme Court justices, state lawmakers, and senators who aren't on our side â€" or aren't acting with the urgency this moment demands."

Second-biggest demonstration after Trump's inauguration

Carmona said the number of marches scheduled for Saturday is second only to the group's first protest, which mobilized millions of people around the world to rally against Trump the day after his inauguration in 2017.

Saturday's marches will take place from coast to coast, including in cities across Texas, a flashpoint in the nation's battle over abortion rights. A number of events are also being held in Canada to show solidarity with women in the U.S., including in Halifax and St. John's.

Diana Haggerty from ResistDance and women's rights advocates take part in the Austin rally. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

The state's so-called "heartbeat" law, which went into effect on Sept. 1, bans abortion after cardiac activity is detected in the embryo, usually around six weeks. That is before most women know they are pregnant and earlier than 85 to 90 per cent of all abortions are carried out, experts say.
 
Texas also lets ordinary citizens enforce the ban, rewarding them at least $10,000 if they successfully sue anyone who helped provide an illegal abortion.

WATCH | Texas 'heartbeat' law could force U.S. Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade: Texas passes law banning abortions after six weeks5 months agoTexas has passed one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S., banning abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion providers say many women don't even know they're pregnant at that time. 4:02

In the month since the law was enacted, hundreds of women in Texas have driven to other states for abortions, while others have sought abortion-inducing pills by mail or visited "crisis pregnancy centres" that encourage women not to get abortions. Abortion clinics are struggling to survive as patient visits decline and some staff quit.

Abortion rights advocates and the U.S. Justice Department have challenged the law in state and federal courts, arguing that it violates Roe v. Wade.
 
A federal judge in Austin on Friday heard the Justice Department's request to block the law temporarily while its constitutionality is challenged.

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