Lubbock, Texas is now the largest city in America to ban abortions.
An ordinance passed on Saturday declared Lubbock a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn” and outlawed abortions within city limits. It declares abortion in city limits “at all times and at all stages of pregnancy” to be an act of murder.
There are 22 other cities in Texas and two in Nebraska that have passed similar ordinances, but Lubbock is the only one that currently has an active abortion provider. Everything Lubbock reports that Planned Parenthood opened a clinic in the city in October 2020 and began offering abortions April 15.
“Today is a victory for life and proof that the silent majority will still stand up for its Christian conservative values,” said state Rep. Dustin Burows (R), who represents the city in the state legislature, in a statement to the Texas Tribune.
The ordinance will also allow residents to sue abortion providers and anyone else who assists a person obtain abortion services.
According to unofficial election results, the ordinance passed with a large majority of 62 percent voted for it and 37 percent against.
The ordinance does allow for valid medical exceptions, including if it is done to save the life of the mother, to remove a fetus that died in a miscarriage, or to remove an ectopic pregnancy.
The ACLU has vowed to fight the city in court.
“The ACLU has a long history of challenging unconstitutional abortion bans and will continue to fight to protect the fundamental rights of the people of Lubbock,” Drucilla Tigner, Policy & Advocacy Strategist at the ACLU of Texas, said.
A spokesperson for the Lubbock Planned Parenthood has said that the clinic will remain open and follow legal restrictions as required.
