Prop A, a controversial 18-page ordinance that sought to impose severe anti-abortion restrictions within the city, was rejected by voters. Texas Freedom Network’s program, Just Texas, worked alongside partner organizations to educate voters about Prop A ahead of the election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2024
CONTACT: Imelda Mejia (she/hers), [email protected]
AMARILLO, Texas – In a decisive vote, Amarillo residents yesterday overwhelmingly rejected Proposition A, a controversial 18-page ordinance that sought to impose severe anti-abortion restrictions within the city. The so-called “Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance” would have banned abortions for Amarillo residents and prohibited the use of local roads to access legal abortion care outside of Texas.
The defeat came after a coordinated effort by faith-based and community organizations to educate the public about the measure’s severe anti-abortion restrictions and civil liberties violations.
Texas Freedom Network Deputy Director Carisa Lopez (she/her), issued the following response:
“Texans are not prisoners of the state, and this state does not own our bodies. We are grateful that Amarillo voters have chosen freedom by rejecting Prop A. This ordinance was an example of massive government overreach, unnecessary cruelty, and a clear violation of the Constitution. Texans deserve freedom over our own bodies and futures, without an extremist minority consistently chipping away at our autonomy and constitutional rights.
“The majority of Texans support access to abortion, yet the same people who concocted our six-week abortion ban continue pushing their unpopular anti-choice, anti-freedom agenda. We know that abortion bans and anti-choice laws disproportionately harm people experiencing abuse and historically underrepresented communities who struggled to access abortion before and after Roe’s overturn. We as voters and Texans must be vigilant in organizing our communities against plots like Prop A, and our fight to go beyond Roe’s protections can never stop. We’re proud that our Just Texas program worked alongside partners like Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance to empower voters with the information they needed to make an informed choice. The rejection of Prop A is a celebration of freedom.”
Prop A’s enforcement mechanism would have been similar to Texas’ six-week abortion ban, Senate Bill 8, which allows private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone they believe has violated the law. Those accused of violating Prop A would have also been responsible for providing the burden of proof in their own defense.
Texas Freedom Network’s program, Just Texas, which mobilizes and organizes people of faith for reproductive justice and LGBTQIA+ equality, worked alongside Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance and Texas Impact to educate voters about Prop A ahead of the election.
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The Texas Freedom Network (tfn.org) is a grassroots organization of religious and community leaders and young Texans building an informed and effective movement for equality and social justice.
