Thousands gather across US to protest Texas abortion ban

Protests were held at every state in America, and in Dublin too.

Yesterday saw tens of thousands of protesters gather in various locations across the US to rally against recent changes to abortion legislation in the state of Texas. Thousands of protesters marched from the White House to the US Supreme Court, calling for increased protection of women's bodily autonomy. Just last month, Texas enacted a law that essentially bans all abortions after the six-week mark in pregnancy, making it the state with the most restrictive abortion law in the country. Additionally, the ban makes zero exceptions for survivors of rape or incest and it stipulates that an abortion can only be carried out after the six-week mark if the pregnancy could endanger the woman's life or result in "substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function". The US Supreme Court has refused to block the Texas abortion ban. Throughout the country, crowds gathered in 600 cities, with rallies taking place in every single state. A number of celebrities joined the protests, including Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer, who marched together. Schumer shared a photo of the two together, and referred to her recent surgery to remove her uterus as well as Lawrence's pregrnancy in the caption. The comedian wrote: "I don't have a uterus and she is pregnant but we out here @womensmarch @plannedparenthood #rallyforabortionjustice." Jennifer held a sign which read, "Women can't be free if they don't control their bodies." https://www.instagram.com/p/CUiWbxpLf_o/ Other celebrities who attended the protests include Patricia and Rosanna Arquette and Alyssa Milano. Elsewhere, in Ireland, protesters rallied in solidarity at the Spire in Dublin. Many held signs which read "Abortion Rights Now", and "#DallasToDublin". The Dublin show of solidarity comes as campaigners push for safe access zones outside abortion facilities in Ireland. Last week, the group Together for Safety launched and submitted a Bill to the Seanad that aims to introduce safe access zones outside maternity hospitals and clinics that provide abortion services.