Updated Oct 2, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Women around the world march for abortion rights

Axios

Protesters marching for abortion rights in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2. — Protesters march for abortion rights in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2. Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

Thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C., and several other cities in the United States and around the world to march for abortion rights in response to the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow Texas' new restrictive abortion law to go into effect.

Why it matters: Texas' new law, which went into effect in early September, is one of the most restrictive abortion bans to be enforced since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.

Catch up quick: The law prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks and before many people know they are pregnant.

It also makes no exceptions for pregnancies that are a result of rape or incest if a heartbeat is detected, and offers at least $10,000 to citizens who successfully sue any person assisting pregnant people with getting abortions that violate the ban.
The Supreme Court rejected an emergency application by reproductive rights groups to block the restrictive law with a 5-4 vote in September but did not rule on the constitutionality of it.

The big picture: The court has been urged by abortion providers to take up the case on an expedited basis but it has not responded to such petitions.

The court in December is expected to hear a challenge to a Mississippi law that bans nearly all abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy.
The Justice Department has sued Texas over the new abortion ban and has urged the Supreme Court to not overturn Roe v. Wade.
A Texas doctor who acknowledged that he violated the ban faces the first lawsuit under the law.

In photos:

Protesters take part in the Women's March and Rally for Abortion Justice in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Pro-choice supporters demonstrating outside the U.S. Embassy in London on Oct. 2. — Pro-choice supporters demonstrate outside the U.S. Embassy in London on Oct. 2. Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Pro-choice supporters marching through central London to the U.S. Embassy on Oct. 2. — Pro-choice supporters march through central London to the U.S. Embassy on Oct. 2. Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Pro-choice protesters confronting Pro-life counter-protesters in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2. — Pro-choice protesters confront anti-abortion counterprotesters (left) in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Protesters marching for abortion rights in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 2. — Protesters march for abortion rights in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 2. Photo: Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images

Protesters taking part in the Women's March and Rally for Abortion Justice in Washington, DC, on Oct. 2. — Protesters take part in the Women's March and Rally for Abortion Justice in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper: Members of Congress share personal abortion stories at House hearing