A new alderman was taken under oath on Wednesday at the city leaders and city council meeting. They passed a decree that allows women from other states to come to Chicago who needs an abortion are not outlawed or pushed away. The majority of the long-lasting city council meeting was spent greeting the new alderman Timmy Knudsen of the 43rd Ward. The 32-year-old Knudsen was chosen by Mayor Lori Lightfoot last week. The “Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City Ordinance” forbid any other city employee, the Chicago Police Department, and Government from carrying out search warrants. Sharing data or helping out in an analysis of any cases related to other states’ laws that restrict a female’s bodily independence in a way that conflicts with Illinois law.
Many leaders didn’t actually outlaw the right to abortion in America until the mid-1800s. This started in colonial days until those first few laws, abortion was considered a regular part of life for women everywhere. Common law allowed abortion prior to “quickening” which is an archaic term for a fetal movement that usually happens after the four months of pregnancy mark.
About two months ago, a little after the Supreme Court sent out its decision to revoke Roe v. Wade, Mayor Lightfoot signed a decision-making order to execute those same safeguarding measures for those seeking gender-affirming and abortion care in Chicago. Now that the full Council has accepted the ruling, Lightfoot’s and the council’s executive order, are more at risk to make a legal challenge, which has been removed and changed by the force of law.
During a conference this week with Black Entertainment Television, Lightfoot mentioned that the states that surround Illinois, including Indiana and Wisconsin, are going to be doing everything in their power to completely entirely prohibit abortion with very few special cases and reasons. Even if and when it comes to saving the mother’s life.
Lightfoot and the council guarantee that Chicago will always be a city that respects the honor and nobility of bodily independence for women. That they’re always gonna make sure that the contributors are able to serve women, wherever they occupy, that is coming to the city of Chicago to be given opportunity to enter reproductive health care advances because that to her is a rudimentary right, stated Lightfoot.
Now that Chicago is always going to be a refuge for justice given to all. Not only do they make that vow, but they want to put their money where their mouth is, Lightfoot immediately found $500,000 to ensure that their providers could take care of women that were traveling. Women coming to Chicago will be provided lodging, traveling fees, and aftercare. Lightfoot stated the city will make “another big commitment” as they go into the budgeting season. Officials want to make sure that women in this country are not reverting to the pre-Roe years, where they had no control over what happened to them or their bodies.
Under the new law made by Lightfoot and the council, all abortions will be performed only in outpatient centers owned by hospitals or actual hospitals. The state’s seven abortion clinics will be losing their licenses for the plans of action. Any doctors who will be found to have performed an illegal abortion will be stripped of their medical license and could face heavy felony charges that will be punishable lawfully with up to six years in prison. Questions on whether any abortions should be allowed in the state are responsible for being marked by the elected members of the Legislature.
By: Zaylah De La Torre
Sources:
Chicago Suntimes: City Council protects abortion rights, declares Chicago ‘bodily autonomy sanctuary city’ By:
Chicago’s Very Own WGN 9: Council makes Chicago abortion sanctuary city, new alderman sworn in by: Chip Brewster, Alyssa Donovan
WBEZ Chicago: Aldermen vote to offer protections for people seeking abortions in Chicago By Mariah Woelfel
Planned Parenthood Action: Abortion Is Central to the History of Reproductive Health Care in America
Featured Image Courtesy of Matt Hrkac of Flickr – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of woodleywonderworks of Flickr – Creative Commons License
