The St. Paul, Minn., city council adopted a controversial resolution this week declaring March 10 as Abortion Providers Appreciation Day and celebrating the “courage” and “dedication” of abortion doctors.
It passed, 7-0.
Council members approved the resolution the same week the U.S. Supreme Court heard a major abortion case that pro-choice groups fear will lead to the dismantling of Roe v. Wade.
“The Supreme Court of the United States now contains a majority of Justices who may not interpret the Constitution to provide protection for the right to end a pregnancy and may overturn or severely limit Roe v. Wade, which includes the threat of patients and abortion providers being arrested and sent to jail,” the resolution says. The Minnesota Sun posted text from the document.
The resolution memorializes abortion doctor David Gunn, who was shot and killed on March 10, 1993. March 10 was set aside this year “to show appreciation for the high-quality care that abortion providers and clinic staff provide, and to celebrate their courage, compassion, and dedication to their work.”
Abortion providers are an “essential and valued part of Saint Paul’s health care,” the resolution says.
“The Saint Paul City Council recognizes March 10, 2020, as Abortion Providers Appreciation Day to honor Dr. Gunn’s memory, to combat the stigma that many abortion providers and clinic staff face, and to celebrate the courage, compassion, and high-quality care they provide,” the resolution says.
State Sen. Paul Gazelka, a Republican and the Senate Majority Leader, criticized the council for passing the resolution.
“I believe we should protect human life from conception to natural death,” he tweeted. “But why would the St.Paul city council choose to ‘celebrate’ abortion? Some may think it’s a necessary evil, but to celebrate abortion is bizarre.”
I believe we should protect human life from conception to natural death. But why would the St.Paul city council choose to “celebrate” abortion? Some may think it’s a necessary evil, but to celebrate abortion is bizarre. #mnleg https://t.co/rbkKy1M5os
— Paul Gazelka (@paulgazelka) March 5, 2020
But the ACLU of Minnesota applauded the city council, The Minnesota Sun noted.
“People who are pregnant have the right to seek abortions,” the ACLU of Minnesota said in a Tweet. “Abortion providers have the right to provide abortion care. Thanks to the St. Paul City Council for being in solidarity with providers and the patients they serve.”
Related:
Supreme Court Could Make Roe ‘Meaningless’ with Major Case Wednesday
207 Members of Congress Ask Supreme Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Trump Admin. Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Pro-Life Law, Citing Gosnell ‘Atrocities’
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, The Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.