Hundreds attend rally at the Old State Capitol calling for eased access to abortions

Hundreds attended a rally at the Old State Capitol Saturday organized by Planned Parenthood of Illinois, calling for the repeal of abortion-related laws in Texas and Illinois.

The Texas law, which allows citizens to sue anyone aiding in an abortion, is being challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice and considered the rally's organizers as setting a precedent that is an affront to access to abortions everywhere.

"It is the most extreme and dangerous abortion ban that we've ever seen," said Brigid Leahy, director of government relations for Planned Parenthood of Illinois, prior to the rally. "We've never had anything like this before go into effect and be enforced."

Leahy said her organization has been receiving patients from Texas who are going out-of-state to seek an abortion. Those patients are often of relatively affluent backgrounds compared to the many seeking an abortion in Texas who do not have the financial means to leave the state, she said.

Read more: https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/10/02/planned-parenthood-abortion-law-protest-springfield/5948510001/
(Springfield State Journal Register)