Rusk: Sanctuary for the Unborn
On Thursday, city council members in Rusk, Texas, voted 3-2 to outlaw abortion make their city a sanctuary for the unborn. Rusk, a city in East Texas of 5,618 residents, becomes the eighth city, and the largest yet, to do so. The ordinance responsible for the decision prevents abortions from being performed either surgically or medically within the city limits.
Providing testimonies to the council meeting were concerned citizens including Councilman Martin Holsome and his wife Rachel, Katrina Burns, Stephen Miller, Jackson Milton, Katherine Pitcher, and Pastors Keith Hassell and Jon Valentine.
After the vote, Councilman Holsome said in an interview with Fox51 KETK, “This... says about the city of Rusk that we are going to be... the city that stands up for what is right; we stand up for what we believe in.”
Holsome’s wife, Rachel Holsome, shared her experience in an impassioned petition. After a traumatic experience at 15, Holsome stated, she was faced with a decision. “I am very grateful for having a Christian background and a godly mother who told me [the] the decision was mine: to keep the baby or place it up for adoption, but never for abortion.” She concluded, “I still stand firmly against abortion, and I will continue to.”
Abolitionist and Rusk native Amy Blackwell was also in attendance, giving a moving testimony about her 8-year-old daughter. Blackwell stated, “Most abortions are made on... the emotions of fear and worry. I was once in [this] moment, visiting an abortion clinic to have my ‘worry’ terminated. I thank God every single day that I did not murder my child.”
Leading the charge was Right to Life East Texas director Mark Lee Dickson, who gave a statement to CRIT-LARGE stating, “the city council of Rusk, Texas made the God-honoring decision that babies would not be murdered in their city. City Councils have an interest in what types of businesses come into their city and the City Council of Rusk in a 3-2 decision decided that the baby murdering business was one industry was not welcome in the city of Rusk.”
While some challenge the legality of the ordinance, Dickson assures, “The ordinance that was passed was 100% in line with the United States Constitution, the Texas Constitution, and all federal and state regulations and rulings.” Both Katherine Pitcher and Jackson Milton with Texas Right To Life worked with Dickson with legal backup for the ordinance.
During the month of January, several more cities are planning on addressing the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance including Jacksboro, Big Spring, Colorado City, Gary, and Abilene. You can find out more about Right to Life East Texas by going to www.sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com.
Continue to follow the Texas pro-life fight in our CRIT-LARGE series, Texas: Sanctuary for the Unborn.