Herstoric: Supreme Court strikes down Texas Abortion Laws
- 06/27/2016 by Linda Perry (WBAI News)


Women outside the Supreme Court protesting the Texas abortion laws shout, "Stop the Sham!" June 27, 2016
In a 5-3 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law designed to shut down abortion clinics. The court ruled that Texas law set up medically unnecessary restrictions.

Texas has already succeeded in shuttering 20 of the 40 clinics in the state. The court ruled that the law was a veiled attempt to make it difficult for women to get abortions, that it constitutes an undue burden on the constitutional right to abortion. The Court also ruled that the requirement to set admitting privileges for doctors at local hospitals or ambulatory surgical facilities is unnecessary.

Rupali Sharma with the Center for Reproductive Rights says the ruling sends a very strong message to those who would seek to limit women’s access to abortion. Sunsara Taylor with Stop Patriarchy is pleased that the law was struck down, but says it’s not an end to the war on women.

According to Sharma, the Supreme Court ruling will now affect similar laws in other states, but she says it's important to remain vigilant.

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