The Seattle City Council passed more legislation this week to help protect abortion rights and the rights of those seeking gender-affirming care.
One bill will add people who have received or are seeking abortions as a protected class in Seattle, ensuring their civil rights protections while the other creates a misdemeanor charge for people who “encroach on individuals seeking abortions or gender-affirming care.”
The newly approved bills follow passage of legislation from District 3’s Kshama Sawant last week 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.
The legislation will also require SPD and the City Attorney’s Office to record requests for law-enforcement assistance from states where abortion is banned.
The bills passed this week by the council were sponsored by Councilmember Tammy Morales (District 2, Chinatown / International District and South Seattle), Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle and South Park), and Councilmember Dan Strauss.
“Every level of government has a vital role to play to ensure body autonomy and self-determination,” Morales said in a statement on the approvals. “While this is a tremendous first step today to protect those folks obtaining a safe medical procedure in our city, we are living in real time the ongoing impacts to the Supreme Court’s decision. We must be bold, courageous, and stand for our values during this pivotal time in our history.”
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.
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