National Urban League & Austin Urban League: Texas Abortion Law Disproportionately Harms Women of Color; Plunges U.S. “Into the Dark Ages”

Washington, D.C. (September 9, 2021) – Today, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Austin, Texas affiliate President Quincy Dunlap issued the following joint statement in response to the Department of Justice’s decision to sue Texas over restrictive abortion law:  

“Last Wednesday, the conservative-led Supreme Court refused to block Texas’ abortion ban, forcing this country into the dark ages,” said Marc H. Morial, President, and CEO of the National Urban League. “Texas State Governor Greg Abbott and the State Legislature have made it clear that a woman’s right to make decisions about her reproductive health does not matter. I applaud the Department of Justice’s swift action to challenge this law, protect the women of Texas, and send a signal to other states that the constitutional rights of women will be upheld. Access to safe abortion services has proven over time to discourage women from exploring unsafe methods to end their pregnancies, especially women in underserved communities or who have experienced the trauma of abuse, rape, or incest. Abortion and other reproductive health services are health care, and it is imperative that we protect women’s access to health care, regardless of personal beliefs or political party affiliation.” 

“Governor Greg Abbott has radically limited a woman’s control over her body with the Texas abortion law,” said Quincy Dunlap, President, and CEO, Austin Area Urban League. “A woman’s body equals a woman’s right to decide what happens to it and when to start a family, regardless of one’s position on abortion. Most women do not realize they are pregnant before six weeks. Restricting abortions after that time is tantamount to forced pregnancy and places women in a desperate situation, which may result in their seeking dangerous alternatives to safe and legal abortions. Texas’ restriction on women’s civil liberties and on those who would seek to assist them in their hour of need is equivalent to that of autocratic oppressive governments in other parts of the world. Similarly, it will result in harm to women. Texas must do better, and I welcome the Justice Departments' intervention.” 

Texas Senate Bill 8 bars physicians from performing abortion procedures once cardiac activity can be detected in the embryo, which usually occurs around the sixth week of pregnancy. Senate Bill 8 will also allow citizens to sue people who perform or aid in the procedure, allowing them to collect at least $10,000 and legal fees if they succeed in court. 

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CONTACT:           Niambé Tomlinson
                              (202) 629-5750 | ntomlinson@nul.org