Los Angeles County has imposed a one-year travel ban to Alabama in response to the state’s new abortion law, which is the most restrictive in the country.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solia, author of the motion, said the state’s law is an “attack not only confined to the residents of those states, but an act of aggression upon all of us.”
"We must stand in solidarity and in opposition against extremist and unconstitutional laws that put the health and wellbeing of families at risk," Solis said. "The constitutional and human right to a safe and legal abortion is part of the very fabric of the United States."
"As such, Los Angeles County will stand against all attempts to dismantle the protections afforded by Roe v. Wade and the U.S. Constitution," she continued.
Solis noted that the travel restriction will send “ a strong signal that infringing upon an individual’s rights to reproductive health and privacy are not American values."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who co-authored the motion, said in a statement that “women across the country must resist legislation that will limit reproductive choices that are essential to every woman’s health.”
She continued: “Everyone knows that banning abortion won’t stop women from accessing abortion services even when it puts them in unsafe medical situations."
HB 314, the Human Life Protection Act, makes it a felony for doctors in the state to perform an abortion.
The ban applies to all LA County employees who are traveling to the state for official business. There are exceptions for “emergency response, training, or assistance, or other legally-required matters where the failure to authorize such travel would seriously harm the County’s interests.”
The officials will also be sending a letter to Gov. Kay Ivey and state leaders calling for repeal of HB 314.
