The Portland City Council will voice its opposition to anti-abortion laws recently passed in other states.
The council will vote on a resolution this week that would direct Portland’s city attorney to file amicus briefs opposing laws in Ohio and Alabama that ban abortions under almost all circumstances.
Supporters of those laws have said they hope to get the Supreme Court to reconsider its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which guaranteed women a constitutional right to an abortion.
Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said other states will continue to try to roll back Roe v. Wade, and in introducing the resolution noted that the Portland City Council should push back.
“I’m actually old enough to remember my mother’s sisters telling stories about back-alley abortions. I never, ever, ever want any person to have to go through that again," Hardesty said.
Hardesty said she expects unanimous support from the city council. According to advocacy groups, Oregon is one of the very few states with no legislative restrictions on abortion.