Conservatives have co-opted the term “sanctuary city” — and the idea of offering a safe haven to a specific group of citizens that might otherwise face sanctions.
While the original idea began in the very liberal California and New York, the latest sanctuary cities protect and preserve the most vulnerable of us at all. Once the hallmark of overly progressive cities hoping to thwart ICE and refuse to detain immigrants, sanctuary cities are now protecting the unborn and our fundamental rights.
The latest location to offer sanctuary is the state of Texas, and many towns within the state are offering safe havens for the unborn and supporting the pro-life movement. So far, 10 towns in Texas have declared themselves to be sanctuary cities, not for those who abuse the law, but for the most at risk and innocent among us. These sanctuary cities have banned the practice of abortion within their limits, even if the state allows the procedure. Most of these towns are small — with 6,000 residents or fewer according to CNN. Another 13 towns in the state are considering similar laws.
The trend started with the small town of Waskom, with a population of just under 2,000 residents. In June 2019, the town voted to protect the unborn and to outlaw abortion procedures and clinics within their borders. Others have been swift to follow suit.
The way that the abortion bans are used varies. Some outlaw all types of abortion — even going so far as to criminalize the procedure. Others have prohibited Planned Parenthood and other abortion purveyors from setting up shop, and still others banned the “morning after pill” or Plan B from being distributed in town stores and pharmacies.
The new ordinances are cropping up across the state and defy the current law of the land. According to the director of Right to Life of East Texas Mark Lee Dickson the ordinances will come in handy if the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade:
“The idea is this: in a city that has outlawed abortion, in those cities if an abortion happens, then later on when Roe v. Wade is overturned, those penalties can come crashing down on their heads,” Dickson told CNN.
The protective ordinances also give family members the right to sue providers. Progressives obviously object to this approach, which is modeled after their own immigration stance.
Dickson spoke with CNN recently and highlighted the importance of the purpose of the law:
“This ordinance specifically was not meant to provoke a lawsuit that would overturn Roe v. Wade,” he said. “This ordinance was meant to keep cities out of lawsuits. We wrote it in a way that really protects both the cities and the unborn.”
Despite squabbles and pointed statements, no one has yet tested the ordinances or sued the cities — and more towns continue to join the fight every week.
