Two Hundred Protestors Turn Out for DWCC’s Saturday March Against State’s Near-Total Abortion Ban

Two hundred protestors showed up for Saturday’s pro-choice Women’s March & Rally at downtown New Braunfels’ Main Plaza.

Comal County residents of all ages were cheered on by motorists who honked their horns and waved hands and offered thumbs-up in support of their protest against Texas’ ‘heartbeat bill,’ SB 8, which bans abortions in the state after six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape, sexual abuse, incest or fetal anomaly diagnoses.

The new law also allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who aids and abets a woman seeking an abortion. It went into effect on Sept. 1.

A bus full of other area residents headed up to join the thousands who turned out for a sister rally in Austin, both in protest of Texas’ near-total ban on abortions.

The event, sponsored by the Democratic Women of Comal County (DWCC), was one of many statewide planned in protest of Texas’ near-total ban on abortions.

Organizer Liz Wilkes said only several counter-protestors circled the plaza in their trucks.

“I’m proud to say that well over 200 people showed up,” she said. “In our area, that’s a pretty impressive showing for people who support reproductive rights.”

Laurie McGill, vice president of the DWCC, wore 20 pro-abortion buttons pinned to her shirt — one of them from a protest around 50 years ago.

“Keep your laws off my body,” it read.

At least five New Braunfels police officers were present for the protest. Organizers said they were concerned about safety in the wake of Wednesday’s attack on Travis County Democrat’s office.

Thirty-year-old Austin resident Ryan Faircloth is charged with throwing an incendiary device into the Democrat’s office on East Sixth Street.

Area protestors also boarded a bus to Saturday’s Women’s March & Rally in Austin. Image courtesy of New Braunfels High school student photographer Bently Paiz.