Pro-life advocates rally at library

CLOVIS -- About 70 people rallied at the Clovis-Carver Public Library on Thursday, urging Clovis be declared a “sanctuary city for the unborn.”

Group leaders also asked city officials to ban abortion clinics from the city.

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris told the crowd, “This blesses my heart. I’m pro-life. I do not consider the [abortion] debate over.  We have to work at the state level.”

Many of those at the rally also attended Clovis’ city commission meeting Thursday at the library. Morris told commissioners he had reviewed an ordinance banning abortion clinics that has been enacted in about 50 Texas cities and he plans to introduce a similar ordinance for Clovis to consider.

“It is my intention to put it on the agenda for the next regular [commission] meeting in two weeks,” Morris said.

Morris said he wants the ordinance studied because, “We want to get it right.”

In an email to The News on Friday, Morris wrote:

“Given the landscape created by the repeal of the state’s law which criminalized abortion (2021 (legislative) session) and the overturning of Roe vs Wade by the United States Supreme Court in June of this year, I have serious concerns about the risks to public health and safety in our city.  While the legal analysis is ongoing and there are questions that need to be answered, it’s my understanding that the ordinance would be enforceable in that it would require compliance with federal law.”

There are no abortion clinics in Clovis or the region, but activists are concerned one could open following a recent Supreme Court decision that leaves abortion laws with states.

Clovis City Attorney Jared Morris, who is not related to the mayor, on Friday said rally organizers submitted two possible ordinances, both “designed to be enforceable and have teeth.”

One proposal would set a “private right of action” in which private citizens could sue an abortion clinic.

A second proposed ordinance would forbid business licenses be issued to any abortion clinic that violates federal law. Jared Morris said that is based on “a federal law that goes back years” that makes it a crime to possess or transport abortion paraphernalia.

The city attorney said he has not had time to review either proposed ordinance.

Mayor pro-tem Chris Bryant said a proposed ordinance “would make a clinic follow federal regulations, not state regulations.”

Ryan Denton of Lubbock, a pastor at Grace Covenant Reformed Church on Norris Street in Clovis, opened the gathering at the library by saying the event was not political and not about churches.

“It’s about exalting babies through Jesus Christ,” he said.  “To make sure not a single baby is murdered in the womb here in Clovis.”

Denton compared the movement to make Clovis a sanctuary city to the biblical story of Joshua bringing down the walls of Jericho.

Mark Lee Dickson spoke. He heads up the organization “Right to Life of East Texas” and claims to have been instrumental in establishing anti-abortion policy in 51 cities.

“You guys are more conservative than some places in Texas,” Dickson said to the crowd.

Dickson called on the crowd to push for passage of an ordinance in Clovis that would forbid the establishment of abortion clinics in the city limits. 

After the rally outside the library, city commissioners listened to pro-life advocates speak for about 90 minutes.

No one opposing a “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance spoke at the meeting.

“I believe the people of this city want to take a stand against this state,” Clovis resident Eric Walsh told commissioners.

“I don’t want people to see Clovis as a gateway city to abortions,” Clovis resident Cheryl Howe said.

In all about 30 people spoke in favor of a sanctuary city ordinance.

Local pro-choice advocates did not present a voice at Thursday’s meeting. But Clovis’ Laura Wight, who described herself as a mother and a progressive, said the proposed ordinance is “problematic for multiple reasons,” when contacted by The News.

“I encourage people, when they talk about abortion, to consider that it’s a very personal thing and it involves an individual’s health care,” Wight said.

“It’s not a decision I can make for other people.”

Wight also said it’s important to remember abortion is legal in New Mexico.

“This is not a productive path because you are instantaneously going against state law,” Wight said.  “It’s asking for a lawsuit.

“New Mexicans have spoken on this issue, we have voted on this, we want abortion to be legal,” she said.

Here is the draft ordinance referenced repeatedly at Thursday's Clovis city commission meeting: https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/home/customer_files/pdfs/clovis_sanctuary_cities_ordinance_conventional_public_enforcement_.pdf