How will blue cities in red states handle abortion? Austin Has a Plan for Texas' Post-Roe World

[Demovictory9]

Texas is likely to criminalize nearly all abortions if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade—but not every Texas city is on the same page. Austin, for one, has a resolution in the works that would effectively decriminalize abortion, protecting its residents from being prosecuted if they terminate a pregnancy, Politico reports

. Councilmember Chito Vela, who introduced the resolution, says action must be taken now: "In Texas, you’re an adult at 17," Vela tells Politico. "We are looking at the prospect of a 17-year-old girl who has an unplanned pregnancy and is seeking an abortion [being] subjected to first-degree felony charges—up to 99 years in jail." "The city is prepared to take the steps necessary to implement this resolution upon passage by City Council," a city of Austin rep says.


Texas is one of many states with so-called "trigger laws" that will take effect within 30 days if Roe is overturned, and some believe the Texas law will enable authorities to go after not just abortion providers but people seeking abortions. Vela's proposed resolution, in an effort not to come into conflict with the state law, would direct police to make abortion their lowest priority in terms of enforcement and would restrict city staff or funds from being used to investigate suspected abortions. While this is the first move by a major blue city in a red state to get around the state's abortion laws in a hypothetical post-Roe world, activists are looking to implement them in other, similar cities.

https://www.newser.com/story/321168/austin-has-a-plan-for-texas-post-roe-world.html

[LeftInTX]

1. Doctors will still refuse to perform them

[dem4decades]

2. What a great place to live. Yes I'm kidding.

[prodigitalson]

4. Austin is a great place to live....it's solid blue like all major TX cities except Ft.Worth

Our state is a tyranny of the country side.

[dem4decades]

5. Well unless you figure out a real way to keep State laws from being enforced it's not.

And this, "maybe they won't notice plan" is not a real plan, people are still in danger from a zealous effort to make abortion criminal.

I'm sure many nice people luvs in Texas but Texas still elects Cruz, Abbott, and a host of other shitheads.

[prodigitalson]

9. And your suggestion?

And don't say vote, because we already thought of that.

[NJCher]

10. Did not know that

You have numerous big cities for Abbott to offend.

[prodigitalson]

11. That's why Abbott allowed each County to only have one drop box during the pandemic

It put the blue cities at a disadvantage.

[DFW]

3. Pol Pot would be proud

The Texas Republicans don't seen to get that even contemplating this kind of move so hostile to the population of Texas is already a stark admission of failure.

Building a wall around West Berlin in 1961 to keep their people from escaping was already an admission of failure by the East German state. Even though it stood for 28 years, no one was fooled for a second what it was really for, and what it symbolized--that the East German state wasn't the paradise its propaganda said it was. They shot people trying to get out, not trying to get in.

Unamuno's words denouncing fascism ring out one more time: "Ustedes vencerán, porque poseen la fuerza bruta, pero no convencerán."

And the victory of brute force is ALWAYS temporary, although that is of little comfort to those who suffer under it.

[LiberatedUSA]

6. If a city in California...

…did the same thing but in refute of California’s assault weapon ban, how would California act? Would they respect the city’s new “not interested” position?

Whatever response you think the State would do to retaliate; well that is what red will do.

[leftyladyfrommo]

7. Speaking from KCMO. It's a short trip from KCMO

to several other states. Same thing is true of St. Louis.

[lindysalsagal]

8. Fantastic idea, but we also need to allow women access to providers.