NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans City Council is pushing back against Louisiana’s trigger ban on abortion now that Roe v Wade has been overturned.
All seven members of the Council co-authored a resolution asking the City of New Orleans to place abortion investigations at the lowest priority, effectively decriminalizing abortions in the city.
The resolution specifically calls on the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney not to dedicate city funds to investigating abortions.
Specifically, Council asks those agencies “not cooperate with other governmental agencies about “any abortion, miscarriage, or reproductive health care act,” unless it is provided to defend the right to an abortion.
The resolution also asks investigators not to keep any information or reports about abortions or miscarriages.
Louisiana’s trigger law, signed in 2006 and recently strengthened by Governor John Bel Edwards, provides no abortion exceptions for rape or incest. It increased penalties on abortion providers, meaning they could face up to ten years in prison or a 100 thousand dollar fine.
Similar resolutions have been offered by councils across the country, including Austin, Texas. Those laws don’t explicitly decriminalize abortion but present huge hurdles in prosecuting those cases.
The motion will appear on the agenda for the next City Council meeting on July 7th.
Friday evening, a group of about 50 pro-choice protestors brought the abortion battle to Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s front door.
They matched through Broadmoor and to the Mayor’s home to voice their opposition to the state’s trigger ban and to ask Cantrell to make a statement that she won’t enforce any laws criminalizing abortion.
“I’m counting down the days until my 18th birthday so I can vote, so I can help, so I can be a part of the change. And the only way I can do it now is be part of this team,” said Em Bay, who was protesting with friends.
Toni Jones, who spoke at the demonstration, taped up a letter near the Mayor’s front door with the group’s requests.
Jones says she’s tried to meet with the Mayor through traditional channels but has yet to get a response.
“The only real way we have access to our elected official is unfortunately to come to her house. We tried going through all the official channels, we tried demonstrating at the halls of power at City Hall,” said Jones.