'They are a gift to us': Abortion opponents gather at Capitol for Texas Rally for Life

Gov. Greg Abbott, activists, religious leaders and thousands of abortion opponents gathered Saturday outside the Capitol to celebrate the impact of the Texas abortion law and to push for even greater restrictions.

The Texas Rally for Life on Saturday comes nearly five months after Texas ignited a national conversation over access to abortion. State lawmakers adopted Senate Bill 8, the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation, during last year’s regular legislative session, and Abbott swiftly signed it into law.

More: Federal appeals court sends Texas abortion law challenge to the Texas Supreme Court

The law, which went into effect Sept. 1, prohibits abortion after six weeks of pregnancy — which is often before most people are aware they are pregnant. Abortion providers have said they are complying with the law, which has had the effect of severely curtailing abortion in the state.

"There's no freedom more precious than life itself. I promised to protect the life of a child with a heartbeat, and we did," Abbott told the crowd Saturday. "I am proud to join you in this fight to protect the sanctity of life in Texas."

Demonstrators kicked off the rally at the intersection of East 13th and Brazos Streets and marched to the Capitol chanting, "We are pro-life!"

Speakers included the Rev. Joe Vasquez, Roman Catholic bishop of Austin; state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life.

More: How the Supreme Court's ruling on a Mississippi abortion law will affect Texas

Janette Taylor, who drove from Belton with her daughter Chelsea Taylor, 22, to attend the rally, said she wants to see more resources available for women who might feel abortion is their only choice.

"Abortion is hurtful, and I really wish that women had other choices in a tough situation," Janette Taylor said. "Women can feel hopeless and like abortion is their only choice, and that saddens me. We can do more to help women be able to choose life."

More: Her fetus no longer viable, Texas woman describes crossing state lines to have an abortion

More: Supreme Court allows clinics to challenge Texas' abortion law, lets Senate Bill 8 stand

Abbott said Saturday he is prioritizing help for pregnant people in need.

"I am proud that Texas is stepping up and providing $100 million for alternatives to abortion programs to support expecting mothers in need," he said.

The Texas abortion law uses a unique enforcement mechanism that has resulted in legal battles playing out in local, state and federal courtrooms.

The law prohibits state officials from enforcing the six-week ban and instead lets any private individual sue abortion providers, or people who aid and abet an abortion, past six weeks gestation. Successful litigants can collect at least $10,000.

This provision has complicated efforts to challenge the law in court because attorneys for the state argue that Texas and state officials cannot be sued as a means of blocking the law because they are not responsible for enforcing it.

But abortion providers and abortion rights organizations say the law was written to evade judicial review, which largely has been the case across multiple legal challenges brought by providers.

Annette Montgomery of Waco brought her children, Evelyn, 11, and Catherine, 9, to Saturday's rally.

"I really want my kids to know that they are a gift to us, to those around them, they are a gift to our community," Montgomery said. "I want them to know that they have a part to play in speaking for people who can't speak for themselves."

The rally fell on the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which ruled that the U.S. Constitution protects a pregnant person's right to choose to have an abortion.

The Supreme Court has three times declined to intervene at the request of abortion providers and block enforcement of the new Texas law while legal cases over its constitutionality play out.

More: Sarah Weddington, attorney who secured abortion rights in Roe v. Wade, dies at 76 in Austin

But depending on how the court handles a challenge to a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the past decisions establishing a right to abortion could be overturned.

Texas is one of several conservative states that has adopted a so-called trigger ban, which would criminalize abortion to the extent permitted by the Supreme Court. The law would take effect 30 days after a relevant ruling from the court and would not require the involvement of the Legislature or any official to be implemented.

Similar to SB 8, the law would not include exceptions in cases of rape or incest and would only permit abortion under rare circumstances, including when a woman’s life is in danger. That law would not rely on private lawsuits for enforcement. Instead, abortion providers who perform illegal abortions could be charged with a second-degree felony and face fines of at least $100,000.

Austin American-Statesman reporter Natalia Contreras can be reached at 512-626-4036 or ncontreras@statesman.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook, @NataliaECG.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Rally for Life: Abortion opponents gather at Capitol