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Abortion-rights activists rally in downtown San Antonio as Texas trigger law takes effect

San Antonio City Council passed a largely symbolic resolution in response to the Supreme Court's June decision. Some are demanding more.

SAN ANTONIO — Statewide trigger laws took effect on Thursday, effectively outlawing abortion while leaving little room for exceptions following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June. 

Dozens of San Antonio abortion-rights activists took to downtown's streets in response, carrying signs with messages like "We Won't Go Back, We Will Fight Back" and "The System is Sexist" Anyone who performs an abortion in Texas now faces the possibility of life in prison, as well as a $100,000 fine.

"We can not have the rest of the country take (the) lead from Texas," said one leader of local activist group Mujeres Marcharan to the crowd.  

The rally snaked its way through the Riverwalk and into downtown streets. Residents and community leaders in attendance said they were "demanding" that Bexar County pass the GRACE Act – or the "Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone Act" – which would prevent local government funds from being used to investigate reported abortions. Austin City Council passed the resolution last month, while San Antonio's own leaders passed a largely symbolic resolution of their own earlier this month. 

Abortion are still legally permitted in Texas if the mother's life is threatened, and women who travel out of state to seek an abortion don't face the threat of prosecution when they return. 

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