Woman in Texas Arrested for Murder in Self-Induced Abortion Case

The post-Roe world may have arrived. On Thursday, police in Starr County, Texas charged 26-year-old Lizelle Herrera with murder for allegedly performing what they called a “self-induced abortion.” Herrera remains in jail with a bond set at $500,000.

Details are scant at the moment, but Rockie Gonzalez, the founder of Frontera Fund, a women's abortion assistance fund that plans a rally in support of Herrera, provided some details to the press in Texas.

Texas Public Radio: “This arrest is inhumane. We are demanding the immediate release of Lizelle Herrera.’ said Rockie Gonzalez, founder and board chair of Frontera Fund. “What is alleged is that she was in the hospital and had a miscarriage and divulged some information to hospital staff, who then reported her to the police.”

Last year, Texas passed Senate Bill 8, which bans abortion procedures as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, often before many women realize they're pregnant. Since then, thousands of Texas women have had to travel out of state or self-induce to end unwanted pregnancies.

Anti-choice activists have always said that they favor laws targeting abortion providers, rather than pregnant women, but both sides of the abortion debate understood that eventually Texas police would start to arrest women who self-induce after 6 weeks. And, because of the vigilante elements of the Texas law, women who miscarry will always face suspicion and possible arrest. Unfortunately, such arrests happen too often in nations that have oppressive abortion laws.

#culture #law #Texas #news #abortion

By: Don Lam & Curated Content