Texas activists and Democrats vow to keep fighting after abortion ban blocked

Reproductive rights groups and Democrats welcome federal judge's decision but warn its impact could be temporary

Texas's near-total abortion ban has been temporarily blocked after a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that it violated the constitutional right to an abortion. Reproductive rights groups and Democrats have welcomed the decision, while warning its impact could be temporary.

From the moment SB 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the constitution," Judge Robert Pitman wrote as part of a 113-page opinion, granting an emergency request from the justice department.