Austin Fights Texas Abortion Law With New Resolution

Austin TX

04 October, 2021

1:00 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Austin City Council approved a resolution on consent that would allow City Manager Spencer Cronk to provide legal resources to support the ongoing lawsuits challenging Texas' most restrictive abortion ban. The general item, which was approved Thursday, encourages businesses to join the city in opposing the implementation of Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Bill. The bill, which was passed in May and went into effect on Sept. 1, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity — usually around six weeks, before some women know they're pregnant. Live in Austin? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. It also allows private citizens to sue health care providers who perform abortions after around six weeks gestation. The law currently does not provide any exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Since it has taken effect, the bill has become the most restrictive law on abortions in the U.S. "Abortion access is under severe attack in our state yet again, and many of us feel frustrated and furious, but it is our responsibility to stand up and fight with all we've got," said Councilmember Paige Ellis, who lead the sponsor of the Abortion Access Resolution. "We cannot let this aggressive invasion into such a private and personal matter go unchecked." Ellis led a press conference on Wednesday morning along with other elected officials in response to the implementation of SB8. She was joined by Mayor Adler, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, Harper-Madison, Casar and advocates from Planned Parenthood, Avow Texas, Women's March and the Austin Justice Coalition. "I'm proud to support this resolution in defense of the right to abortion care," Adler said. "I represent nearly one million Austinites, the majority of whom oppose the state's extreme abortion ban. It offers no solutions, no reasonable exceptions, no medical precautions, and certainly no compassion." A month after the bill has taken effect, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas said it's seeing patients "trekking hundreds of miles across state lines seeking abortion care." Two years ago, Austin was the first city in the country to allocate funds supporting residents seeking abortion care by helping them with resources such as transportation and lodging, but in light of Texas's Heartbeat Act taking effect that assistance is on hold. "This is unjust. It is inequitable and frankly it is cruel. That is why we have to be here. We have to be here to speak up for them and let them know they are not alone and that all together we are going to do what it takes to protect their rights," Harper-Madison said. The city of Austin isn't the only government agency fighting back SB8. Eight days after the law took effect, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas stating the law was enacted "in open defiance of the Constitution." Days later, the department asked a federal court in Texas to stop the enforcement of the state's new abortion law while it decides the case.