In a press conference with community supporters Friday following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant announced that she will introduce legislation to turn Seattle into an “abortion rights sanctuary city.”
According to a news release, Sawant’s legislation would prevent Seattle police officers from processing arrest warrants related to anti-abortion laws for both patients and their doctors.
Sawant also pledged to amend the city’s budget to make access to abortion free for those seeking sanctuary from anti-abortion laws around the country and for Seattle residents.
“Today we face the single biggest attack on women, queer and pregnant people, and reproductive rights in most of our lifetimes, and this right-wing Supreme Court has also given every indication that they plan to carry out draconian attacks on LGBTQ rights,” Sawant said in a statement. “We must make Seattle a sanctuary for pregnant people and their doctors and other care providers facing persecution for seeking and performing abortions.”
Councilmember Tammy Morales issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s decision:
“Today, the right-wing Supreme Court disregarded a half-century of precedence and achieved their perverse agenda – to violate basic human and constitutional rights, to take away a person’s right to choose, to force people to give birth against their will. While this is a moment of unspeakable sorrow, we must not let it lead to despair. One in four women in this country have had an abortion. I am one of them. And I am terrified and outraged for the many people who will need abortion care today and every day forthcoming, particularly Black and Brown folks across the country. Make no mistake, this ruling is the Supreme Court mandating forced pregnancy, taking away the right to self-determination and personal freedom.”
Morales said that her office has been working on legislation since the Supreme Court’s draft opinion was leaked in May.
“That legislation is aimed at protecting workers who seek abortions, regulating crisis pregnancy centers, and providing safe passage for people seeking abortion treatment and gender-affirming care at clinics in our city,” Morales said.