On Oct. 2 a rally was held in Fargo for abortion justice. The recent bill passed in Texas regarding abortion has created a wide range of tension across the state. The rally was initiated by Planned Parenthood, calling hundreds of rallies across the country

North Dakotans may be facing a similar outcome to that of Texas as Republican legislators and pro-life supporters seek to create a similar bill.

“Since this rally was just a chapter of an even larger movement happening all around the country for reproductive justice, given all events put together, [the rallies] will show support towards a woman’s right to choose what happens with her body,” rally-goer Megan Schmidt said. “I think that specifically in the state of North Dakota it will show our state government that this is an important issue, and that we should not follow in Texas’s footsteps”

N.D. State Senator Jane Mydral, a supporter of anti-abortion legislation, has recently stated she believes it is only a matter of time before N.D. attempts to follow in Texas’s footsteps.

“Bills such as SB8 are unconstitutional, not only does it violate the precedent set by Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion procedures but it violates bodily autonomy rights,” said Schmidt. “North Dakota has one center in the whole state that can give legal abortions, the Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo. If a similar bill passes in North Dakota that will increase unsafe abortions instead of decreasing the overall number of abortions.”

Mydral also believes that the Supreme Court’s decision to deny the block of the Texas law is a sign the court may overturn Roe v. Wade. N.D. is one of few states who have what are known as trigger laws that would make abortion illegal if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

N.D.’s current law states that abortions after 20 or more weeks past fertilization are banned, except in cases of health or life endangerment, but many Republican law makers hope to change that.

The rally was not only to show support nationwide, but in Schmidt’s eyes, a message to N.D. legislators hoping to create a more strict abortion law.

“Bills such as SB8 are unconstitutional, not only does it violate the precedent set by Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion procedures but it violates bodily autonomy rights,” said Schmidt. “North Dakota has one center in the whole state that can give legal abortions, the Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo. If a similar bill passes in North Dakota that will increase unsafe abortions instead of decreasing the overall number of abortions.”

Schmidt commended on the atmosphere of the rally and believes it is important for the state government to see how important the issue is to its citizens, and that citizens are against the Texas bill and do not wish to follow in their footsteps.