Photo: Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock
Seattle, Washington is becoming a safe haven for abortion providers and those seeking abortion services.
On Tuesday, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a bill prohibiting city police from arresting people on warrants issued in other states or assisting in investigations from other states related to abortion bans.
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Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock
Sawant told the outlet that she hopes that other cities follow Seattle’s lead in protecting reproductive healthcare.
“If bringing it here can help it spread to other cities and states, the impact could be truly profound,” Sawant said, noting that Minneapolis and Chicago council members have reached out to her to discuss introducing similar bills.
“The law remains unchanged in Washington state, but the threat to patient access and privacy has never been more dangerous. Even in Washington state, Republicans have introduced about 40 bills in the past six years to roll back abortion rights and access to reproductive care,” Inslee said at the time. “The right of choice should not depend on which party holds the majority, but that’s where we find ourselves.”
“More than half the nation’s population now lacks safe access to a medical procedure that only a patient and their doctor can and should make for themselves. Instead, law enforcement, vigilantes and judicial systems can force patients to bear the burdens of forced pregnancy and birth,” he continued. “Washington state remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the ability and right of every patient who comes to our state in need of abortion care, and we will fight like hell to restore that right to patients all across the country.”
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed two bills that would protect nationwide access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, in response to the overturn ofRoe.
This federal bill, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act — which passed 223-205 — would protect a patient’s right to travel across state lines for abortion services. Another bill, the Women’s Health Protection Act — which passed 219-210 — would allow healthcare workers the right to provide abortion services and patients the right to obtain them, regardless of several state bans.
source: people.com
