(ChurchLeaders) After a controversial abortion ban took effect in Texas this week, pro-lifers declared victory while abortion-rights supporters expressed anger and started fighting back against the Texas law. Some turned to digital activism, some pledged to help women cross state lines to receive medical care, and others are encouraging boycotts.
The Texas law, which bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, is designed to be tough to challenge, giving enforcement power to citizens. Opponents, who say the law will prevent about 85% of abortions from being performed in the state, accuse Republican politicians of “deputizing” Texans and promising informants large bounties. President Biden is promising to lead a “whole of government” effort against the ban.
Because the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 against blocking the ban, it took effect at midnight Thursday. Before that deadline, Whole Woman’s Health, a Fort Worth clinic that sued to try to block the ban, performed 67 abortions in 17 hours. “We’re going to help everybody that we can,” director Marva Sadler told the clinic’s small team. “We are not the bad guys here.”