Amarillo voters rejected a proposal this election to make it illegal to use streets and highways to travel to other states to get an abortion.
The proposal, Proposition A, would have made Amarrillo a “sanctuary city for the unborn,” only achieved 40% in favor, according to the Dallas Morning News. It would have allowed residents to sue another person for violating the ordinance for at least $10,000.
“The City of Amarillo has become the first city in the history of Texas to reject a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance on a citywide ballot. 40.54% (27,544) voted FOR. 59.46% (40,392) voted AGAINST,” Mark Lee Dickson, an anti-aboriton activist wrote on X. “Amarillo is the new Alamo for the pro-life movement in Texas.”
Despite being a highly conservative city, the proposal to adopt an abortion travel ban had already failed in June when the Amarillo City Council rejected it. However, supporters of the measure gathered enough signatures to place the ordinance on the November 5 ballot.
Amarillo council member TomScherlen, who opposed the measure, previously said the measure would make neighbors turn in their neighbors.
“Last time we saw something like this was during World War II when Hitler was asking neighbors to turn neighbors in during the war, especially towards the Jews,” Scherlen said in an interview last year with CNN. “And I just don’t propose liking to see a neighbor turn in a neighbor, particularly in America. We live in a free society. And according to the Constitution, I believe that you are entitled the right to travel.”
Abortion right supporters celebrated Amarillo’s decision to reject the abortion travel ban proposal.
“This victory comes after months of local organizing,” the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas wrote on X. “The message is clear: Texans want to protect reproductive freedom — and will do so when given the opportunity.”
