Palm Springs City Council members unanimously approved a resolution Thursday declaring the city a safe place for women seeking abortion services.
During the meeting, council members discussed making Palm Springs a haven for those seeking abortions as indicated by the title "Resolution Declaring the City of Palm Springs a Safe City for Reproductive Freedom and Access to Abortion".
Designed to be a model for the defense of reproductive freedom, the resolution said that Palm Springs will "defend the right to reproductive freedom and safe access to abortion services." The document also said that Palm Springs welcomes anyone looking to "fully exercise their reproductive rights".
“What those in my generation know is that many of our friends had to seek back-alley abortions. Now here we are 50 years later, with their granddaughters now facing the kinds of hurdles that we thought we had overcome. It’s an absolute tragedy,” Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton said.
The Palm Springs Post reported that the city will not comply with states that attempt to investigate patients who travel to California for abortions as per the resolution. This protection would extend to minors traveling out of state for an abortion, the article said.
"We stand behind our city leaders," Palm Springs Police Lt. Mike Viegas said in the news account.
The resolution was proposed by Councilmember Christy Holstege as reported after the meeting in the City Council Staff Report.