May 24, 2019

ACLU and Planned Parenthood sue Alabama over abortion ban

Orion Rummler

In this image, protestors hold pro-abortion signs. — People during an abortion-rights rally in Foley Square of Manhattan on May 21. Photo: Selcuk Acar/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the Alabama Women's Center sued Alabama on Friday over one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, the Washington Post reports.

What's happening: The lawsuit argues that Alabama's ban, which does not allow for exceptions against criminalizing abortion in cases of rape or incest, "directly conflicts with Roe and more than four decades of Supreme Court precedent affirming its central holding," according to the Post.

Between the lines: The Alabama lawyer who wrote this ban, Eric Johnston, expected a lawsuit since the ban goes against Roe v. Wade.

As reported by NYT's "The Daily," the lawyer is hoping the ban could be taken to the Supreme Court in a larger fight — but he acknowledges that may not happen.

Go deeper: Some states rush to protect abortion as Roe v. Wade fight heats up

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ACLU and Planned Parenthood sue Alabama over abortion ban

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