Starting today, abortion is out of reach for most people in Texas.

The most dangerous abortion ban in the country has taken effect, and most patients in Texas will no longer have access to safe and legal abortion.
 
This breaking news out of Texas has me absolutely furious. But I know that anger doesn't fight injustice — action does. And I know that what we need right now more than anything is clarity, focus, and determination.

Planned Parenthood is doing everything we can to support patients and doctors in this time of crisis. Here's what you need to know about Texas's abortion ban, which:

1. Bans all abortion starting at six weeks, with no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. That's before many people even realize they are pregnant. In fact, 84% of abortions in Texas happen after six weeks. For these patients, this is a complete ban on abortion.
2. Allows anyone — including anti-abortion protesters who have no connection to the patient — to act as bounty hunters and to take doctors, health centers, and anyone who helps another person access abortion to court and collect $10,000 for each abortion.
3. Empowers abusers. Under the law, anyone can sue to block someone from getting an abortion. A neighbor, a local pastor, a complete stranger — even an abusive spouse or partner can use the courts to take control of a pregnant person's reproductive rights.
4. Impacts people of color. Many Black and Latino communities, people with low incomes, and those who live in rural communities already struggle to access reproductive health care. The unjust burden of this law would fall disproportionately on those who can least afford it.
5. Affects millions of people — and other states are likely to follow Texas. The cruelty and extremism of this ban would have been unthinkable just a few years ago — but if we don't fight back, it will become a model for many other states.

Planned Parenthood joined the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Lawyering Project, the ACLU, the ACLU of Texas, and Morrison & Foerster LLP to fight back against this dangerous law. Will you do your part by making an emergency donation right now?

We will put your donation to work to support patients by making sure they know their options, by directly funding access to abortion out of state, and by fighting in court to overturn this assault on our most basic rights. Every dollar you give right now will help protect and restore access to abortion in Texas.

Planned Parenthood will keep working to protect reproductive health and freedom, no matter what. But we know this fight won't be easy, and it won't be over soon. We need you with us now and in the months ahead as we do everything we can do to support Texas patients and beyond. Thank you for doing your part.