Local Officials Take Action to Protect Abortion Access Post-Roe

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has sparked a wave of action in local governments across the South to protect abortion access. In response to the ruling, Austin City Council members have announced plans to introduce a resolution decriminalizing abortion in the Texas capital. The proposal, known as The GRACE Act (Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone), directs the police department to make investigating abortions their lowest priority and prohibits the use of city funds for such purposes.

This move by Austin officials comes as part of a broader trend in the region, with progressive prosecutors in major Southern cities also pledging to protect abortion access. District attorneys in cities like New Orleans, Durham, and Fairfax County have stated that prosecuting individuals under state anti-abortion laws will be a low priority in their communities.

In addition to Austin, other Southern city councils are taking action to safeguard abortion rights. Durham, North Carolina, passed a resolution declaring the city a “sexual and reproductive health care safe zone,” while Raleigh is considering measures to protect its two clinics. These efforts are seen as crucial in the face of potential state preemption laws that could block local ordinances aimed at protecting abortion access.

While the battle over abortion rights continues to unfold in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, local officials and advocates are determined to ensure that individuals have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. The push to protect abortion access at the local level reflects a growing recognition of the importance of reproductive rights in the South.