Thousands gather for annual Texas Rally for Life at Austin Capitol
Thousands descend on Texas capitol for pro-life march
Around 4,000 people marched down Congress Street Saturday to continue a push for even tougher abortion restrictions and to urge the funding of pro-life pregnancy centers.
AUSTIN, Texas - Roughly 4,000 people marched to the Austin Capitol Saturday carrying signs that read "Choose life" and "defund planned parenthood."
It's part of the annual Texas Rally for Life, which falls on the week of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion; however, that has since been overturned, and Texas now has a near-total abortion ban.
Thousands of pro-life supports march in Austin Saturday.
Local perspective:
After marching around the capitol, people dropped off baby supplies for pregnancy centers. Organizers estimate that more than 40,000 diapers and 13,000 wipes were donated.
With a near-total abortion ban in Texas and Republicans making up a majority in the Texas and U.S. House and Senate, this year's march feels more like a victory lap for participants. They’d like to build on that.
What they're saying:
"I hope today sends a message that we in Texas are pro-life," said Amy O'Donnell, the communications director for Texas Alliance for Life.
"It communicates to the public, to Texans, that this issue is important and we're speaking for the unborn," said Kate McDonald, who was with the Leander Area Republican Women. "Those that can't speak for themselves. It's an important issue that we need to continue to fight for."
They discussed funding for pro-life pregnancy centers and the Texas abortion law itself.
"We are always one election away from losing our gains, and the reality is that our work is far from over," said O'Donnell.
Just this week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick called on legislators to further define Texas' law on how ill or at risk a pregnant person has to be to receive an abortion.
"We're also working to make sure that doctors are clear of our law," said O'Donnell. "We hear a lot of misinformation that our laws don't save women's lives."
Thousands of pro-life supports march in Austin Saturday.
The other side:
Democrats have asked for clarity on this too.
"So we can ensure that those who have pregnancy complications will be able to get the health care that they need to have," said State Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin).
While there was no counterprotest at the capitol, the ACLU of Texas said it's still fighting back.
"At the ACLU of Texas we are committed to fighting for reproductive justice in Texas," said Blair Wallace, the policy and advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Texas
Wallace said a top priority right now is training people through the Texas Abortion Advocacy Network to learn how to fight for pro-choice despite the state's ban.
"We're building a powerful movement of advocates and working to push back, you know, against things like criminalization and expanding access to care because we know that the Texas we know can exist and will exist, it just really takes all of us coming together," said Wallace.