The former President of Planned Parenthood of America said she鈥檚 concerned about what Texas鈥檚 new legislation could mean for the country. The new law stops doctors from performing abortions once fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks and often before people know they're pregnant.
鈥淎ll of us who have worked in this area for a long, long time, have hoped that this day would never come, but here it is,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淭his is a cruel and unconstitutional law.鈥�
The law was passed on what would've been her mom's birthday, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.
鈥淚 just thought how upsetting it was, to think that all the things that we鈥檝e fought for in Texas," she said. " Building our democracy, better access to opportunities for everyone, that really in one day it just crushed decades and decades of progress in the state.鈥�
Richards is in Dallas to speak at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas鈥� annual on Thursday. The event raises funds for the organization鈥檚 health and education services.
She has a message for people: You鈥檙e not alone.
鈥淭he worst thing could happen is that people's rights are taken away, and it's silent,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淚 know people are afraid. And so it鈥檚 even more important to speak up and speak out, because you can't ever know how much that helps people who are really struggling right now.鈥�
She鈥檚 anticipating more lawsuits like those against the doctor in San Antonio who provided an abortion outside the six-week timeframe outlined by the new law.
She's also watching the coming up in December. The court is set to hear arguments about Mississippi鈥檚 abortion laws, which could challenge Roe v. Wade.
But Richards said it goes beyond litigation.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 on my mind is that every day in Texas now, millions of people wake up who have lost this right to make their own decision about pregnancy,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淎nd that is unconscionable.鈥�
Got a tip? Email Elena Rivera at erivera@kera.org. You can follow Elena on Twitter .
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