A rally in solidarity with people affected by new abortion laws in Texas has taken place outside the Spire this afternoon.
Since September the law has banned terminations after 6 weeks of pregnancy in the US state.
The Texas 'Heartbeat Law' also allows people to take a civil case against anybody who they suspect has aided or facilitated an abortion.
Protests against the rules are taking place across the US and the rest of the world today.
In Ireland, abortion campaigners also gathered in Cork, Limerick, and Belfast.
At the Spire in solidarity against the Texas abortion ban #TexasAbortionLaw #DublinToDallas pic.twitter.com/g6ohir92VO
— ROSA - Socialist Feminist Movement (@RosaSocFem) October 2, 2021
A leading campaigner from the 2018 Repeal referendum movement says these new laws have similarities to Ireland's previous restrictions on abortion.
Speaking at the rally in Dublin this afternoon, Feminist campaigner Ailbhe Smyth says Texas' new law criminalises women who need access to a termination:
"Because the clinics are terrified, because doctors who are seen to in any way put even a toe beyond the law will of course be treated as criminals.
"All so familiar to us, 'Heartbeat Law'. Doctors as criminals, women as criminals. We've been through it."
