Today, the National Organization for Women - NY mobilized with members, allies, and elected leaders to send a clear message that the Texas abortion ban is unconstitutional and dangerous to the lives of women and people in need of reproductive healthcare in the U.S. The law, which went into effect on September 1st, is the most extreme ban in effect in the country, ending access to abortion after just six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. Since most women don’t even yet know they are pregnant at six weeks, the law effectively ends abortion in the state of Texas.

Texas Senate Bill #SB8 will go into effect on September 1st, ending access to abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and creating a hostile legal environment that would allow anyone to sue abortion providers and “aiders and abetters” in civil court.“ This extreme new ban is an assault on women’s lives and dignity,” said Sonia Ossorio, president of NOW-NY. “It’s unconstitutional, and it sets a dangerous course for many states."

Kathy Hochul, the former Congresswoman and Lieutenant Governor, made history today when she was sworn in as the 57th Governor of New York, becoming the first woman to ascend to the highest position in state government.