70 U.S. CITIES AND 8 COUNTIES HAVE PASSED ORDINANCES OUTLAWING ABORTION*
WASKOM, TEXAS
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.
The population of the city of Waskom, Texas is 2,189.
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.
In the News
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
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
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
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
By Owen Daugherty
The Gateway Pundit - July 28th, 2019
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 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 - 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
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
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
Sanctuary Status
About the Ordinance
The Waskom Ordinance
First Pitch / Vote
June 11th, 2019
Result: Ordinance Passed, 5-0
Result of Vote
Surgical and Medical abortions are outlawed in Waskom, Texas.
Additional Actions
Ordinance Amended
March 11th, 2020
PRAISES & ENDORSEMENTs
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Father Frank Pavone - National Director, Priests For Life
Twitter Tweet - June 12th, 2019
"Breaking Pro-Life news - Waskom, a small city in Texas, unanimously declares itself a 'sanctuary city for the unborn' Way to Go, I hope more cities follow suit!"
https://twitter.com/i/status/1138780506034774017
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Jonathan Stickland - Texas State Representative for House District 92
Facebook Status - June 13th, 2019
"Thank God for these brave patriots. Every life is worth protecting. #onward"
Link Shared:
From: Fox News
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Jonathan Stickland - Texas State Representative for House District 92
Facebook Status - June 13th, 2019
"I had a feeling that little amendment I wrote might come in handy. ;-)
"During the 86th legislative session, legislators passed SB 22, which prohibits transactions between a governmental entity and an abortion provider or affiliate of the provider.
The bill contained an amendment, authored by Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford), that says the state will not “restrict a municipality or county from prohibiting abortion,” including cities like Waskom."
Link Shared:
Texas City Outlaws Abortion; Declares Itself a 'Sanctuary City for the Unborn'
From: The Texan
Mike Lang - Texas State Representative for House District 60
Facebook Status - June 14th, 2019
"This session, I was a Joint Author of the bill to abolish abortion and a Co-Author of the Heartbeat bill. I am fighting for life in Austin, here is an opportunity for our local officials to take a stand on Pro-Life issues! Has your city or county done this yet?
Don’t wait on the legislature, act now."
Link Shared:
Texas City Bans Abortion Clinics, Declares Itself a “Sanctuary for the Unborn”
From: LifeNews
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Sid Miller - Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Facebook Status - June 15th, 2019
"Now, this is the kind of sanctuary city that I can get behind!"
Link Shared:
Texas City Outlaws Abortion; Declares Itself a 'Sanctuary City for the Unborn'
From: The Texan
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Franklin Graham - President of Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Facebook Status - June 20th, 2019
"I’m with the city of Waskom, Texas! This town passed an ordinance banning abortion in their city limits and declaring that they are a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn.” Their ordinance goes farther to state that "The Supreme Court erred in Roe v. Wade when it said that pregnant women have a constitutional right to abort their pre-born children." The head of Right to Life of East Texas said that rather than becoming a destination for abortion, they want to focus on doing what the Bible says in Amos 5:15, “Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate.” I applaud their goal and their boldness. Abortion is taking millions of lives every year and this needs to be changed. I hope that more cities will take the same stand to defend life."
Link Shared:
From: Fox News
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Jonathan Stickland - Texas State Representative for House District 92
Facebook Status - October 2nd, 2019
"Last session my (wonderful) staff came up with an idea to offer an amendment to an obscure bill. It reaffirmed that cities could ban abortion, something none of them had ever tried. My colleagues had no idea what we were doing at the time. I love seeing that little spark turn into a wildfire across Texas. #prolife #onward"
Link Shared:
Antiabortion Law Spreads in East Texas as ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ Movement Expands
From: Texas Tribune