Planned Parenthood battles Texas abortion law as the case heads to court

The battle over Texas’ new abortion law will hit the courtroom Monday as part of a legal challenge seeking to disolve elements of the GOP led bill that sparked mass protests at the Legislature over the summer.

The law restricts how, when and where a woman can obtain an abortion in Texas and was the subject of Fort Worth Sen. Wendy Davis’ nearly 13-hour filibuster that brought her national attention.

Melissa Harris-Perry drew attention to the Texas abortion battle, which now heads to court

Beginning Oct. 29, the law requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges within 30 miles of the clinic, that they follow strict instructions for pill-induced abortions and that they only perform abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy if health of the mother is in danger or the fetus is not viable.

Starting next October, the law also requires all abortions take place in an ambulatory surgical center, a mandate that could leave only a handful of clinics open in the nation’s second most populous state, but requiring a new minimum standard in case of an emergency.

Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers argue the law has little to do with medicine and will deny women access to a legal abortion.

“These laws are really going to have a devastating effect on access to reproductive health care,” said Janet Crepps, a lawyer for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Thousands of protesters gathered to support and oppose the bill, making headlines with chants of “Hail Satan” countered the singing of “Amazing Grace” and MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry donned tampon earrings in protest of the bill.