Republicans continue to limit rights and access to a safe abortion across the nation, most recently in Texas, where the Lone Star State's Republican legislature passed Senate Bill 8. It now heads to the desk of Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who has expressed support for the legislation and is expected to sign it into law.
The bill is among the most restrictive anti-abortion bills in the nation, banning abortions after the detection of an embryonic heartbeat, which usually occurs around six weeks—before many even realize they're pregnant. There are no rape or incest exemptions.
If that isn't draconian enough, the bill also allows anyone in the state to sue over abortions performed after the six week mark. This paves the way for radical anti-abortion activists to target doctors and anyone who helps grant access to an abortion.
Given the rampant violence and murder committed by radical anti-abortion activists in the name of their cause, it's easy to imagine that activists would take it upon themselves to inundate doctors with litigation.
In a statement responding to the bill, Center for Reproductive Rights president Nancy Northup said:
"This bill essentially opens the floodgates to allow anyone who is hostile to abortion to sue doctors and clinics, consuming their resources and forcing them to shut down. We will pursue all legal options to prevent this law from taking effect."
Others share these concerns and have spoken out against the measure on social media..
Texas Republicans are trying to pass a law that would let anyone sue any woman who gets an abortion -- and her doctor, and anyone who helped her get to the clinic -- even if she was raped, and even if they don't even know her.\n\nRepublicans hate women and freedom.— melissa stout (@melissa stout) 1617216556
Republicans don't care about life in the least. What they care about is maintainin' control over women.https://www.rawstory.com/looming-texas-law-would-allow-anti-choice-vigilantes-to-sue-anyone-who-aids-or-abets-an-abortion/\u00a0\u2026— Tea Pain (@Tea Pain) 1621014250
Texas is about to pass one of the most strict abortion laws in the country. \n\nThis law will not only allow just about ANYONE (literallly anyone that knows or finds out you\u2019ve had an abortion) to sue someone that has had an abortion, but ANYONE involved in the process is liable.https://twitter.com/txhousewhc/status/1392972384857202688\u00a0\u2026— Boring but Radical. (@Boring but Radical.) 1620955594
To me this means it's time for me to donate to some Texas abortion funds. Before I do does anyone have a fund-a-thon for a Texas abortion fund for me to donate to?pic.twitter.com/r6hKdYtqBF— Jennie Wetter (@Jennie Wetter) 1621011869
Some even compared Texas to Gilead—the dystopian nation featured in The Handmaid's Tale.
Texas becoming Gilead. I\u2019m ready to bounce after this TxLedge session.https://twitter.com/txhousewhc/status/1392972384857202688\u00a0\u2026— Nic (@Nic) 1620997360
When I taught high school history I would joke with my students who were reading The Handmaids Tale for their English class that it was about Texas after it secedes. I guess I was wrong...which GOP bill renames the state Gilead?https://twitter.com/TXHouseWHC/status/1392972384857202688\u00a0\u2026— Bryan J Henry (@Bryan J Henry) 1620956511
If Obama being elected had anything to do with the increased outward oppression of people of color. I can't imagine what electing the first female VP is going to do for the women of the world. Case in point: #txlege https://twitter.com/TXHouseWHC/status/1392972384857202688\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/esykYqlCja— Mark Farris \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f he/him/his (@Mark Farris \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f he/him/his) 1620953344
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