BACKGROUND AND NEWS LINKS

Waskom, Texas is located in Harrison County. During Harrison County's 2016 Presidential Election 70.6% voted Republican, 26.9% voted Democrat, and 2.4% voted for other candidates.

During the 2018 Republican Party Primary, voters had the opportunity to vote on proposition #7. This proposition gave voters the chance to voice their opinion if they were "In Favor" or "Against" this following statement: " I believe abortion should be abolished in Texas." Out of 6,949 votes 5,265 voted in favor of the idea of abolishing abortion in the state of Texas and 1,684 voted against the idea abolishing abortion in the state of Texas. 

On June 11th, 2019 the City Council of Waskom voted on the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance. The vote was unanimous. In taking this action the City of Waskom became the first city to outlaw abortion in the nation. 

WASKOM OUTLAWS ABORTION

KTBS 3 ABC - June 11th, 2019

Waskom Passes Ordinance To Ban Abortions Within City Limits (VIDEO)

By KTBS 3 ABC News Team

ArkLaTex Homepage - June 11th, 2019

Waskom Passes “Sanctuary City Law for the Unborn”

By Alexandra Meachum

Fox News - June 12th, 2019 

Texas Border Town Declares Itself Sanctuary City for the Unborn: Here We Will No Longer Murder Our Babies 

By Caleb Parke

The Blaze - June 12th, 2019

Texas Town Declares Itself a “Sanctuary City” - for Unborn Babies

By Carlos Garcia

LifeNews - June 12th, 2019

Texas City Bans Abortion Clinics, Declares Itself a “Sanctuary for the Unborn”

By Micaiah Bilger   

ArkLaTex Homepage - June 12th, 2019

Waskom Locals Support Abortion Ordinance While Others Fear Speaking Against It (VIDEO)

By Alexandra Meachum

Texas Right To Life - June 12th, 2019

East Texas City Council Bans Abortions In Town’s Jurisdiction

The Marshall News Messenger - June 13th, 2019

Waskom Becomes First “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

By Robin Richardson

Longview News Journal - June 13th, 2019

Waskom Outlaws Abortion, Becomes Texas’ First ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’

By Robin Richardson

The Washington Post - June 13th, 2019

Five Men Outlaw Abortion in a Texas Town, Declaring a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

The Huffington Post - June 13th, 2019

All-Male City Council in Texas Town Votes to Ban Abortions 

By Dominique Mosbergen

BBC News - June 13th, 2019

Texas Town Bans Abortion in All-Male City Council Vote

USA Today - June 13th, 2019

‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’: All-Male City Council in Texas Town Bans Most Abortions

By Ryan W. Miller

The Texas Tribune - June 13th, 2019

East Texas Town With No Abortion Clinics Passes Ordinance Attempting To Ban the Procedure

By Isaac Stanley-Becker

The Longview News-Journal - June 13th, 2019

After Waskom, East Texas Anti-Abortion Group Plans to Extend “Sanctuary” Status to Other Cities

By Ken Hedler

The Texan - June 13th, 2019

Texas City Outlaws Abortion; Declares Itself a 'Sanctuary City for the Unborn' 

By Tony Guajardo

The Daily Signal - June 13th, 2019

Texas Town Outlaws Abortion, Declares Sanctuary City for the Unborn

By Mary Margaret Olahan 

Newsweek - June 13th, 2019

Texas City Council Votes To Make Town A 'Sanctuary City of the Unborn,' Bans Abortion In City Limits

By Donica Phifer

Jezebel - June 13th, 2019

Congratulations To The 5 Old Men Who Just Declared Their City A Sanctuary “for the Unborn”

By Frida Garza

NBC News - June 14th, 2019

Texas Town Declared “Sanctuary City for the Unborn” (VIDEO)

Reuters - June 14th, 2019

Texas Town Declares Itself a “Sanctuary for the Unborn”

By Ellen Wulfhorst

The Dallas Observer - June 14th, 2019

East Texas Town Does Its Thing, Declares Itself Sanctuary City for Fetuses 

By Jim Schutze

KLTV 7 - June 14th, 2019

Right To Life East Texas Director Speaks Out About Waskom Abortion Ban

Breitbart - June 15th, 2019

Texas Town 1st In Nation To Ban Abortion: Sanctuary City for the Unborn

Dr. Susan Berry

KCBD 11 - June 15th, 2019

An East Texas Town Passed An Ordinance Banning Abortion. What Happens Next?

By Blaine Skiles

Jezebel - June 16th, 2019

Another Small Texas City Wants To Become A Sanctuary for the “Unborn”

By Frida Garza

Activist Mommy - June 17th, 2019

This Texas Border Town Just Became A Sanctuary City For The Unborn: “We Will No Longer Murder Our Babies”

By Elizabeth Johnson

Patheos - June 25th, 2019

How One Texas Town Went From Speed Trap to Pioneers of Human Rights for the Unborn

By Jack Lee

ABORTION BILLBOARD CONTROVERSY

The Houston Chronicle - July 2nd, 2019

City of Waskom’s Abortion Ban Prompts New “Abortion is Freedom” Billboards

By Andrea Zelinski

ArkLaTex Homepage - July 3rd, 2019

Texas Pro-Choice Groups Erect Billboards to Counter Waskom’s “Sanctuary City” Ordinance 

KLTV 7 - July 5th, 2019

“Abortion Is Freedom” Billboards Cause Controversy in Waskom, City Decared the Act Illegal (VIDEO)

By Kenley Hargett

Faithwire - July 5th, 2019

Texas Pro-Life Group Issues Epic Response to New “Abortion Is Freedom” Billboards

By Will Maule

The Human Defense - July 5th, 2019

Texas Town Tells World: Babies Will Not Be Murdered Here

By Jacob McConnell

Baptist Press - July 9th, 2019

Pastor Takes Pro-Life Battle To City Government Level

By Diana Chandler

WFAA 8 ABC - July 17th, 2019

Waskom Remains Committed to Abortion Ban While Mineral Wells Votes to Take No Action On the Same (Video)

Longview News-Journal - July 21st, 2019

White Oak Native Behind “Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn” Says Movement Is Just Getting Started

By Glenn Evans

The Hill - July 28th, 2019

Pro-Choice Billboards Erected Outside Texas Town That Declared Itself “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

By Owen Daugherty

The Gateway Pundit - July 28th, 2019

Abortion Lobbyists Construct Billboards Outside of Texas Town That Declared Itself 'Sanctuary City For the Unborn'

By Cassandra Fairbanks

The Washington Post - July 29th, 2019

A Tiny Texas Town Finds Itself On the Front Lines of the Abortion Wars

By Laura Hughes

Fox News - July 29th, 2019

Pro-Choice ‘Abortion Is Freedom” Billboards Erected Outside Texas “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

By Caleb Parke

Longview News-Journal - July 29th, 2019

Abortion Billboards Galvanize Waskom Residents

From Staff and Wire Reports

End Abortion TV - July 29th, 2019

The Nonsense of Saying "Abortion is Freedom!"

By Father Frank Pavone

Live Action - July 31st, 2019

Pro-Abortion Org Puts “Abortion is Freedom” Billboards in “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

By Anna Reynolds

The Stream - August 2nd, 2019

Here’s What Texan Pro-Lifers Have to Say About Their “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

By Mary Margaret Olohan 

THE SPREAD OF ABORTION BANS

The Alabama Baptist - September 28th, 2019

Southern Baptist Pastor in Texas Takes Pro-Life Battle to City Government Level 

By Baptist Press / The Alabama Baptist 

Washington Post - October 1st, 2019

Antiabortion Law Spreads in East Texas as ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ Movement Expands

By Emily Wax-Thibodeaux 

Dallas Observer - October 14th, 2019

Fed Up With Legislative Moderation, Texas Anti-Abortion Activists Take To The Cities

By Stephen Young  

Texas Tribune - October 15th, 2019

Anti-Abortion Activists Take Their Fight To Small-Town East Texas

By Edgar Walters 

The Daily Signal - October 23rd, 2019

Why These 6 Towns Became ‘Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn’ 

By Jackson Elliott

The Dallas Observer - December 27th, 2019

At the End of A Tumultuous Year, What’s Next For Texans’ Reproductive Rights?

By Stephen Young

WORLD Magazine - January 2nd, 2020 (Issue Date - January 18th, 2020) 

Abominable Enterprise: A Year In Abortion Battles 

By Leah Hickman

The Cut - January 17th, 2020

Towns in Texas Keep Becoming ‘Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn’

By Bridget Read

L’Obs - February 9th, 2020

In the United States, the Anti-Abortion Preacher’s Crusade

By Doan Bui

ACLU FILES LAWSUIT

ACLU - February 25th, 2020

ACLU Sues Seven Texas Cities Over Anti-Abortion Ordinances

By ACLU

Texas Right To Life - February 25th, 2020

ACLU files scattershot lawsuit against Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn in Texas

By Texas Right To Life

Texas Tribune - February 25th, 2020

ACLU sues seven Texas towns for passing local anti-abortion ordinances

By Edgar Walters

The Texan - February 25th, 2020

ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Seven Towns Declared “Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn”

By Daniel Friend

Marshall News Messenger - February 25th, 2020

ACLU file against Waskom, other cities who passed abortion ordinance

By Meredith Shamburger

KLTV - February 25th, 2020

ACLU files lawsuit to challenge 'sanctuary cities for the unborn' ordinances adopted by East Texas towns

By KLTV Staff

Longview News Journal - February 25th, 2020

ACLU files lawsuit against East Texas cities that passed anti-abortion ordinances

By Meredith Shamburger

The Austin Chronicle - February 26th, 2020

ACLU Sues Texas Cities Over Local Abortion Bans

By Mary Tuma

CNN - February 26th, 2020

ACLU sues 7 'sanctuary cities for the unborn' for violating abortion rights groups' free speech

By Caroline Kelly and Carma Hassan

Life News - February 26th, 2020

11 Texas Cities Have Passed Pro-Life Laws Banning Abortions, The ACLU is Not Happy About It

By Micaiah Bilger 

Texas Scorecard - February 27th, 2020

ACLU Sues Texas Towns Over “Sanctuary of the Unborn” Ordinances

By Cary Cheshire

Live Action - February 27th, 2020

ACLU Sues Seven Texas ‘Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn’

By Mark Lee Dickson

CRIT-LARGE - March 7th, 2020

ACLU Sues Seven Small Texas Towns

By Preston Kelly 

Marshall News Messenger - March 11th, 2020

Waskom Makes Amendments to Abortion Ban Ordinance

By Robin Y. Richardson

The Federalist - March 18th, 2020

'Sanctuary Cities For The Unborn' Gear Up To Fight ACLU Lawsuit

By Georgi Boorman

ACLU WITHDRAWS LAWSUIT

Tyler Morning Telegraph - May 26th, 2020

ACLU withdraws “Sanctuary Cities for Unborn” lawsuit after cities make amendments 

By Ben Fenton

Marshall News Messenger - May 28th, 2020

Abortion lawsuit dropped against Waskom, sanctuary cities; both sides declare victory 

By Robin Y. Richardson 

Texas Right To Life - May 26th, 2020

ACLU Drops Lawsuit Against Pro-Life Cities

By Texas Right To Life

The Texan - May 26th, 2020

ACLU Withdraws Lawsuit Against Texas “Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn”

By Daniel Friend

KETK Fox 51 - May 27th, 2020

ACLU drops lawsuit against 7 East Texas cities that chose to outlaw abortion

By Christa Wood

Live Action - May 27th, 2020

ACLU Withdraws Lawsuit Against Seven Texas ‘ Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn’

By Mark Lee Dickson 

Life News - May 27th, 2020

Texas Cities Can Ban Abortion Clinics After ACLU Drops Lawsuit  

By Micaiah Bilger 

Huff Post - May 28th, 2020

Texas Towns Change Ordinances That Label Abortion Rights Groups ‘Criminal’

By Melissa Jeltsen

Texas Scorecard - June 1st, 2020

ACLU Abandons Lawsuit Against Pro-Life Texas Towns

By Cary Cheshire 

World Magazine - June 1st, 2020

Battle over sanctuary cities for the unborn cools down

By Leah Hickman

Omaha, Texas is located in Morris County. 

During Morris County's 2016 Presidential Election 69.3% voted Republican, 28.7% voted Democrat, and 2.1% voted for other candidates. During the 2018 Republican Party Primary, voters had the opportunity to vote on proposition #7. This proposition gave voters the chance to voice their opinion if they were "In Favor" or "Against" this following statement: " I believe abortion should be abolished in Texas." In Morris County, out of 1,244 votes, 942 voted in favor of the idea of abolishing abortion in the state of Texas and 302 voted against the idea abolishing abortion in the state of Texas.  

On September 9th, 2019 the City Council of Omaha voted on the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance. The vote was unanimous. In taking this action the City of Omaha became the second city to outlaw abortion in the nation. 

On October 14th, 2019 the Omaha City Council recanted the ordinance in favor of a non-binding resolution by a 3-2 vote. 

OMAHA OUTLAWS ABORTION

KETK East Texas Matters - September 9th, 2019

Two Northeast Texas cities become ‘sanctuary cities’ for the unborn

By Mintie Betts

Texas Right To Life - September 9th, 2019

Two Northeast Texas Cities Pass Ordinance Banning Abortions in City Limits

By Texas Right To Life

Faithwire - September 10th, 2019

Two Texas Cities Outlaw Abortion, Become 'Sanctuary for the Unborn'

By Will Maule

Life Site News - September 10th, 2019

Two Texas Cities Become a "Sanctuary City for the Unborn," Pass Laws Banning Abortions

By Micaiah Bilge  

KTAL 6 - September 10th, 2019

Two More NE Texas Cities Declare Themselves 'Sanctuary City for the Unborn' (VIDEO)

By Jenna Jordan

Live Action - September 11th, 2019

Two More Texas Cities Pass Ordinances To Become 'Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn'

By Elle Kay

The Texan - September 12th, 2019

Austin Makes 'Abortion Logistics' Funding Official As Two More Towns Become 'Sanctuary Cities For the Unborn'

By Daniel Friend

The Federalist - September 17th, 2019

Majority-Woman City Council In Texas Votes To Create Second 'Sanctuary City For The Unborn'

By Georgi Boorman

Texas Observer - September 19th, 2019

Some Small Texas Towns Are Declaring Themselves ''Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn'

By Sophie Novack

Washington Post - October 1st, 2019

Antiabortion Law Spreads in East Texas as ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ Movement Expands

By Emily Wax-Thibodeaux 

AFTER OMAHA RECANTED

The Daily Signal - October 23rd, 2019

Why These 6 Towns Became ‘Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn’ 

By Jackson Elliott

CRIT-LARGE - November 6th, 2019

The Continued Texas Fight to Outlaw Abortion

By Preston Tyler

On September 17th, 2019 the City of Joaquin became the fourth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 5-0.

Population: 850

City Type: General Law A

County: Shelby

In February of 2020 the ACLU of Texas and ACLU National filed a lawsuit on behalf of two abortion assistance groups against seven of the twelve cities which had outlawed abortion at that time. Joaquin was the third city named in the lawsuit. The two abortion assistance groups represented by the ACLU were the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and the Texans for Equal Access Fund. While the cities were encouraged by the ACLU  to retract the ordinances which they had enacted, all seven cities chose to amend and strengthen their ordinances outlawing abortion. The City of Joaquin amended their ordinance on March 17th, 2020 and by the end of May the ACLU withdrew their lawsuit. 

The lawsuit did not cost the City of Joaquin or their taxpayers one cent and abortion remains banned in  Joaquin, Texas.

On September 23rd, 2019 the City of Tenaha became the fifth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous.

Population: 1,160

City Type: General Law B

County: Shelby

In February of 2020 the ACLU of Texas and ACLU National filed a lawsuit on behalf of two abortion assistance groups against seven of the twelve cities which had outlawed abortion at that time. Tenaha was the fourth city named in the lawsuit. The two abortion assistance groups represented by the ACLU were the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and the Texans for Equal Access Fund. While the cities were encouraged by the ACLU  to retract the ordinances which they had enacted, all seven cities chose to amend and strengthen their ordinances outlawing abortion. The City of Tenaha amended their ordinance on April 27th, 2020 and by the end of May the ACLU withdrew their lawsuit. 

The lawsuit did not cost the City of Tenaha or their taxpayers one cent and abortion remains banned in  Tenaha, Texas.

On July 23rd, 2019 the Gilmer City Council heard a first pitch encouraging an ordinance outlawing abortion to be passed within their city limits. 

On September 24th, 2019 the City of Gilmer became the sixth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 4-1 with two council members not present for the vote. 

Population: 5,216

City Type: Home Rule

County: Upshur

On November 14th, 2019 the City Council of Westbrook heard a first pitch encouraging an ordinance outlawing abortion to be passed within their city limits. 

On November 18th, 2019 the City of Westbrook became the seventh city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 3-0.

Population: 312

City Type: General Law C

County: Mitchell

On November 21st, 2019 the Rusk City Council voted 3-0 to table the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance in order that they might vote on the ordinance with a full council at a future date.

On January 9th, 2020 the Rusk City Council untabled the ordinance and passed the ordinance in a 3-2, vote making the City of Rusk the eighth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits.  

Population: 5,618

City Type: Home Rule

County: Cherokee

In February of 2020 the ACLU of Texas and ACLU National filed a lawsuit on behalf of two abortion assistance groups against seven of the twelve cities which had outlawed abortion at that time. Rusk was the fifth city named in the lawsuit. The two abortion assistance groups represented by the ACLU were the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and the Texans for Equal Access Fund. 

While the cities were encouraged by the ACLU to retract the ordinances which they had enacted, all seven cities chose to amend and strengthen their ordinances outlawing abortion. The City of Rusk amended their ordinance on April 15th, 2020 and by the end of May the ACLU withdrew their lawsuit. 

The lawsuit did not cost the city of Rusk or their taxpayers one cent and abortion remains banned in  Rusk, Texas.

On December 10th, 2019 Colorado City’s City Council heard a first pitch encouraging an ordinance outlawing abortion to be passed within their city limits. 

On January 14th, 2020 the City of Colorado City became the ninth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 5-1.

Population: 4,146

City Type: Home Rule

County: Mitchell

On October 17th, 2019 the City of Gary voted to table the Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance. On January 16th, 2020 the Gary City Council voted to untable the ordinance and voted to become the tenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous.

Population: 311

City Type: General Law B

County: Panola

In February of 2020 the ACLU of Texas and ACLU National filed a lawsuit on behalf of two abortion assistance groups against seven of the twelve cities which had outlawed abortion at that time. Gary was the sixth city named in the lawsuit. The two abortion assistance groups represented by the ACLU were the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and the Texans for Equal Access Fund.  While the cities were encouraged by the ACLU to retract the ordinances which they had enacted, all seven cities chose to amend and strengthen their ordinances outlawing abortion. The City of Gary amended their ordinance on March 19th, 2020 and April 23rd, 2020 and by the end of May the ACLU withdrew their lawsuit. 

The lawsuit did not cost the City of Gary or their taxpayers one cent and abortion remains banned in  Gary, Texas.

On November 12th, 2019 the City Council of Big Spring heard a first pitch encouraging an ordinance outlawing abortion to be passed within their city limits. 

On December 10th, 2019 the Big Spring City Council voted to table the ordinance outlawing abortion. The vote was 5-2.

On January 14th, 2020 the Big Spring City Council voted to untable the ordinance and vote in the first of two readings to pass the Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance. The ordinance passed the first reading in a 3-2 vote with 1 council member choosing to abstain from voting. On January 28th, 2020 the ordinance passed a second and final reading with a 4-2 vote making the City of Big Spring the eleventh city in the nation to pass an ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits.  

Population: 28,862

City Type: Home Rule

County: Howard

On February 10th, 2020 the City of Wells became the twelfth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous.

Population: 769

City Type: General Law A

County: Cherokee

In February of 2020 the ACLU of Texas and ACLU National filed a lawsuit on behalf of two abortion assistance groups against seven of the twelve cities which had outlawed abortion at that time. Wells was the seventh city named in the lawsuit. The two abortion assistance groups represented by the ACLU were the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and the Texans for Equal Access Fund. While the cities were encouraged by the ACLU  to retract the ordinances which they had enacted, all seven cities chose to amend and strengthen their ordinances outlawing abortion. The City of Wells amended their ordinance on March 9th, 2020 and by the end of May the ACLU withdrew their lawsuit. 

The lawsuit did not cost the City of Wells or their taxpayers one cent and abortion remains banned in Wells, Texas. 

On March 12th, 2020 the City of Whiteface became the thirteenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 3-2. 

Population: 312

City Type: General Law A

County: Cochran

On July 20th, 2020 the City of East Mountain became the fourteenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 3-0 with two abstaining. 

Population: 797

City Type: General Law A

Counties: Upshur, Gregg

On September 29th, 2020 the City of New Home became the fifteenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 5-0.

Population: 320

City Type: General Law

County: Lynn

On October 12th, 2020 the City of Morton became the sixteenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 4-0.

Population: 2,006

City Type: General Law A

County: Cochran

On December 1st, 2020 the City of Ackerly became the seventeenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 6-0. 

Population: 251

City Type: General Law 

Counties: Dawson, Martin

On January 25th, 2021 the City of Grapeland became the eighteenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 4-0 with one abstaining.

Population: 1,489

City Type: General Law A

County: Houston

On February 10th, 2021 the City of Goldsmith became the nineteenth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous. 

Population: 257

City Type: General Law A

County: Ector

On February 22nd, 2021 the City of Carbon became the twentieth city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous. 

Population: 348

City Type: General Law B

County: Eastland

On March 4th, 2021 the City of Gorman became the twenty-first city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous.

Population: 1,083

City Type: Home Rule

County: Eastland 

On March 9th, 2021 the City of Murchison, Texas became the twenty-second city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous. 

Population: 606

City Type: General Law A

County: Henderson

On March 15th, 2021 the City of Latexo, Texas became the twenty-third city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 4-0. 

Population: 322

City Type: General Law B

County: Henderson

On April 6th, 2021 the Village of Hayes Center, Nebraska became the twenty-fourth city in the nation, and the first city in Nebraska, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 5-0.

Population: 288

City Type: Village

County: Hayes

On April 13th, 2021 the City of Blue Hill, Nebraska became the twenty-fifth city in the nation, and the second city in Nebraska, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 3-0.

Population: 941

City Type: Second Class City

County: Webster

On August 25th, 2020 Senator Charles Perry and Representatives Dustin Burrows and John Frullo sent a letter to Mayor Dan Pope encouraging the City of Lubbock to pass an ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. Mayor Dan Pope and the Lubbock City Council, who had already been vocally opposed to the ordinance, hired the Olson & Olson Law Firm out of Houston, Texas to review the ordinance. The law firm, which was found to have family ties to Planned Parenthood, recommended against the ordinance regarding the ordinance as unconstitutional and inconsistent with state law. 

Since the Mayor and Lubbock City Council had no intention of giving the ordinance a hearing, seven Lubbock residents took advantage of a provision provided within Lubbock’s city charter and began the initiative and referendum process. 

The amount of verified signatures needed to force the vote by the Lubbock City Council was 3,651 verified signatures. In two weeks over 5,000 signatures were collected by the citizens of Lubbock and a hearing was set for November 17th, 2020. At that hearing the Lubbock City Council voted unanimously against the ordinance. This allowed for the initiating committee to then file for the ordinance to be placed on the ballot of the next normal uniform election. 

On April 15th, 2021 Planned Parenthood started murdering innocent unborn children in Lubbock, Texas. Early voting for the passage of Lubbock’s Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance began on April 19th, 2021.  

On Saturday, May 1st the residents of the City of Lubbock voted to pass the ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. Out of a total of 34,260 votes cast in the election a total of 21,400 votes (62.5%) were cast in favor of the ordinance and 12,860 votes (37.5%) were cast against the Ordinance. 

Population: 264,000

City Type: Home Rule

County: Lubbock

That ordinance was met with a lawsuit from the ACLU of Texas representing Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and their employees. The lawsuit was filed May 17th, 2021. A hearing was held on Friday, May 28th, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Prior to the hearing Judge Hendrix asked the Office of the Attorney General to respond to the views on the questions of Texas laws which were presented by Planned Parenthood in this particular case. In response to the request, Judd E. Stone, the Solicitor General of Texas, released a seven page letter on May 31st, to Judge Hendrix’s court. The letter stated that in their view “Lubbock’s ordinance is entirely consistent with state law.” 

Late on June 1st, 2021 Judge Hendrix ruled in Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Surgical Health Services, et al. v. City of Lubbock, Texas with a 50 page ruling dismissing Planned Parenthood’s case for a lack of jurisdiction. 

Since the ordinance has gone into effect Planned Parenthood has complied with the ordinance and abortions have not been performed in Lubbock, Texas.

On May 10th, 2021 the City of Abernathy, Texas became the twenty-seventh city in the nation, and the twenty-fifth city in Texas, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. 

Population: 2,839

City Type: General Law A

Counties: Lubbock, Hale

On May 11th, 2021 the City of Poynor, Texas became the twenty-eighth city in the nation, and the twenty-sixth city in Texas, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was unanimous.

Population: 314

City Type: General Law

County: Henderson

On May 25th, 2021 the City of Lebanon, Ohio became the twenty-ninth city in the nation, and the first city in Ohio, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 6-0.

Population: 20,529

City Type: Home Rule

County: Warren

On May 17th, 2021 the Levelland City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the passage of an ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. 

The second and final reading of the ordinance took place on June 8th, 2021 and passed unanimously making Levelland the thirtieth city in the nation, and the twenty-seventh city in Texas, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. 

Population: 14,582

City Type: Home Rule

County: Hockley

On June 8th, 2021 the City of Sundown, Texas became the thirty-first city in the nation, and the twenty-eighth city in Texas, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 4-1.

Population: 1,397

City Type: General Law A

County: Hockley.

On June 21st, 2021 the City of Sterling City, Texas became the thirty-second city in the nation, and the twenty-ninth city in Texas, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 5-0.

Population: 888

City Type: General Law A

County: Sterling

On July 7th, 2021 the City of Centerville, Texas became the thirty-third city in the nation, and the thirtieth city in Texas, to pass an enforceable ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The vote was 5-0.

Population: 892

City Type: General Law A

County: Leon

On June 15th, 2021 the Mayor and all members of the Edinburg City Council publicly committed to support passing an ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. 

The pro-life community of Edinburg, Texas is expecting abortion to be outlawed at a council meeting before the end of 2021. 

Population: 101,170

City Type: Home Rule

County: Hidalgo

On June 17th, 2021 the Village Council of South Lebanon voiced their support for passing an ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits but expressed some concerns and directed their Village Attorney to connect with Mark Lee Dickson about those concerns. 

On July 2nd, 2021 the Village Council continued to voice their support for passing an ordinance outlawing abortion but were swayed over their Village Attorney’s concerns regarding the authority of non-charter villages. While the Village Council did not outlaw abortion that night, the Mayor and Village Council did commit to pass an ordinance once the village is designated a city before the end of 2021.

Population: 4,802

City Type: Non-Charter Village

County: Warren 

On June 21st, 2021 the City Commission of Eastland, Texas discussed an ordinance which would outlaw abortion within their city limits. The City Commission voted 5-0 in a procedural vote which directed the City Attorney to work with Mark Lee Dickson on an ordinance outlawing abortion which would be voted on at their next city council meeting. 

Population: 3,970

City Type: Home Rule

County: Eastland