Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ Three towns in Texas recently voted in favor of becoming "sanctuary cities for the unborn.”

Six other Texas towns have also recently passed similar versions of an ordinance aiming to outlaw abortion. But what exactly do these ordinances mean?

texastribune.org/2020/01/15/thr…

2/ These anti-abortion ordinances:

+ outlaw abortion and Plan B if the U.S. Supreme Court makes it possible
+ allows family members of women who have abortions to sue the provider for emotional distress.
+ criminalizes reproductive rights groups

texastribune.org/2019/10/01/ant…

3/ None of the nine towns — most with populations under 3,000 — have abortion clinics.

The goals of the ordinances are to prevent clinics from moving in to these towns and provoke a legal challenge that could further curtail abortion rights.

texastribune.org/2019/10/01/ant…

4/ Local conservatives and activists said they’re frustrated by a perceived unwillingness of #txlege to sufficiently curtail abortion rights.

“We want to send the statement: We don’t want you here,” said one mayor about abortion providers.

texastribune.org/2019/10/15/ant…

5/ To be clear, abortion remains legal and is not prohibited under these ordinances.

But abortion rights advocates say the ordinances are dangerous and intentionally confusing because they may lead people to believe that abortion is illegal.

texastribune.org/2019/10/15/ant…

6/ Some towns have voted down similar ordinances or walked them back under advice from city attorneys.

@ACLUTx has previously said it is investigating a possible lawsuit to strike down the ordinances.

texastribune.org/2019/10/01/ant…

7/7 This hasn’t stopped the activist behind the movement, who plans to pitch the ban to more than 400 towns in Texas.

“If we could do this in Texas, we can do this in cities and towns in Arizona, in Florida, in Iowa. It could happen all over the country”

texastribune.org/2019/10/01/ant…