Anti-abortion activists in Amarillo have gathered over 10,000 signatures to challenge the City Council’s policy banning the use of local streets to access abortions in other states. If validated, the council will reconsider the issue, potentially leading to a vote by residents.
Unlike other conservative areas in Texas, Amarillo has yet to implement such a ban, although neighboring cities and counties have passed similar policies.
The proposed ordinance initially focused on restricting access to abortion-inducing medication and regulating the disposal of human remains, but the current version removes the travel ban entirely.
National Abortion Ban (Credits: Rolling Stone)
Mayor Cole Stanley expressed concerns about misrepresentation of the ordinance to residents and believes many who signed the petition may not have fully understood it.
The proposed ordinance allows private lawsuits against those who assist with abortions, potentially creating a system where neighbors could sue each other.
Stanley hopes the council can propose an alternative ordinance aligned with local and state policies, potentially avoiding a divisive public debate. Jana May, who initiated the petition, is open to working with the council but hopes they approve the ban.
US abortion bans (Credits: Lowy Institute)
The petition drive was supported by out-of-town anti-abortion activists, including Mark Lee Dickson, who considers Amarillo a battleground in the national fight over abortion access.
Conversely, Fariha Samad from The Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance sees the issue as local and plans to continue advocating against the ban.
