Seattle has prohibited its police department and city attorney from cooperating with law enforcement and legal actions related to abortion bans in other states.

Tuesday, the Seattle City Council passed District 3 representative Kshama Sawant’s legislation directing the Seattle Police Department and the City Attorney Ann Davison “to refrain from cooperating with out-of-state law enforcement agencies or other entities about abortion-related matters,” according to a statement from the council.

If abortion were to become unlawful in Washington, it would make enforcement of those laws among the lowest priorities, the statement said.

Sawant says the legislation will make Seattle a “sanctuary city” for those seeking and providing abortion access across the country.

“Let anyone threatened by draconian anti-abortion laws come to Seattle without fear of prosecution!,” a statement on the passage from Sawant’s office read.

CHS reported here in June on protests and legislative efforts that arose in Seattle and across the state following the Supreme Court ruling reversing Roe vs. Wade and eliminating the constitutional right to abortion.

The legislation passed Tuesday in Seattle would also require SPD and the City Attorney’s Office to record requests for law-enforcement assistance from states where abortion is banned.

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