Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A TEXAS PROSECUTOR has dropped charges against a woman who had been arrested days earlier for having an abortion, in a case that has drawn national indignation.
Lizelle Herrera (26) was arrested on April 7, for “intentionally and knowingly [causing] the death of an individual by self-induced abortion,” according to police in the southern US state.
She was later released on a $500,000 (€460,280) bond before a Texas district attorney finally moved to drop the charges yesterday, according to a court filing seen by AFP.
“In reviewing applicable Texas law, it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her,” prosecutor Gocha Allen Ramirez said in a statement.
Nevertheless, Ramirez said, local law enforcement was justified in investigating the case after a hospital reported Herrera.
“To ignore the incident would have been a dereliction of their duty,” he said.
It is not clear whether a Texas law passed in September banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy was originally considered as the basis for Herrera’s arrest.
But the case emphasised the heightened emotions surrounding reproductive rights in the United States as several abortion laws – both restrictive and protective – make their ways through state legislatures.
They come ahead of a potential Supreme Court ruling that could overturn the 50-year-old Roe v Wade law that enshrines the right to abortion in the United States.
“We stand with Lizelle and everyone in Texas seeking care, in spite of systemic barriers and obstacles,” reproductive care and policy advocacy organization Planned Parenthood said in a tweet.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s done it’s job. It will instill terror in those that find themselves in the position of an unwanted pregnancy with limited options.
They will stop attending hospitals. They will put their lives at risk. They’re going to suffer.
Let’s not be coy, this is the logical conclusion of these types of laws.
@Tricia G ☘️: absolutely, there was never going to be a conviction. All they wanted was to make an example of her as they’re foolish enough to think that this will stop unwanted pregnancies from happening
@Tricia G ☘️: wait until they roll back Roe v Wade later this year. We ain’t seen nothing yet. US on its way to being a Christian Theocracy just like the Founders “intended”.
@Gerard Ryan: I’ve been paying very close attention to the Supreme Court. Their refusal of block the Texas law, the arguments and questions asked re: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization do not bode well for the outcomes.
While the Mississippi case could result in Roe being reversed and some State bans, the worry is a case will reach the Supreme court that rules on the personhood of a fetus. That’s the Anti-Choice crowds end game and would result in abortion bans at a federal level.
This has been the plan for years, the Anti-Choice side have played the long game.
The same hospital that will have no problem to deny treatment if the patient have no insurance. Morals, compassion and the right to live end once the baby is born.
Meanwhile the GPQ is trying to introduce a law in Tennessee which is a peado charter by eliminating the age of marriage at 17.
Representative Tom Leatherwood, 65, of Arlington, introduced the bill into the state’s House that would eliminate the current age requirement of 17 and allow for ‘alternative forms of marriage’ to those who ‘conscientiously object to the current pathway to marriage.’
@DJ François: tis backwards the whole country is going…
@Scorcher Bois Gris: if only the would go backwards and adhere to the intentions of their founding fathers.
Christ almighty, the US of the Handmaid’s Tale is coming to pass….
@Scorcher Bois Gris: Sadly the US have already helped create Gilead – have you read up on Afghanistan lately?
I blame America’s troubles on its nigh inaccessible third level education system. Welcome to the dark ages.
@Ruth Mannion: Only because the likes of Ireland are determined to follow their lead…
@SJF: Your comment makes absolutely no sense at all.
@SJF: maybe in your dark corner of the world.
@SJF: we don’t have access to 3rd level education?
The same state that is terrorising famies who attend doctors for gender affirming care. Some social workers are resigning rather than be forced to traumatise these familes. Banning books. Driving women out of state. Florida threatening teachers for mentioning being gay. It’s Dark Ages stuff and it’s spreading like wild fire.
Just another day in Gilead.
The same state that is terrorising families who are attending doctors with children who are investigating gender affirming care. Child welfare workers are handing in their notice because they are being forced to traumatise these families.
@Sandra Duffy: how many times are you going to post the same comment. Thus is the 4th one I’ve seen….
People should have the choice to bring a child into the world. In this day and age with the costs of raising a child it is understandable that people may not be ready financially to support a child, especially in America. But in this “Equal” society that should involve everyone, at the minute the only one that has a choice is the woman. If she chooses to bring the child into the world the father has to support them regardless. If this was a truly fair and equal society men would also have a choice to financially abort their responsibility to a child that they do not want.
@Daniel Muldoon: I think you’ll find that most women would not want anything from a man who didn’t want their baby. You’ll find these are the single mothers on OPFP.
All the commenters here seem to think it’s perfectly ok to murder the child. How do you all feel about sex selection abortions?
@Paul Walsh: They would probably love the idea. commenters here care more for puppies and kittens than children, huge support for aborting children right up to birth from these killers.
@Paul Walsh: If you’re aware of anyone murdering children you should really report that.
That’s definitely illegal.
@David Bohane: So the legal and medical description of a child is unacceptable to you.
Anything else we need to know that we are wrong to believe?
@Paul Walsh: how do you feel about strawmen?
@Gary Kearney: Funny that, People until recently did not need legal or medical assistance to understand what a child is.
Its an atheist leftist thing, they just love aborting babies.
@David Bohane: there’s literally no comparison between a child and a dog.
What an insanely backward dump.
have your say