Letter to the Editor: Quincy 7th Ward aldermen believe sanctuary city legislation is illegal and should be rejected

City Council will introduce an ordinance next week to make Quincy a “sanctuary city for the unborn.” We strongly oppose this legislation and firmly believe such legislation would represent an unnecessary intrusion of government into deeply personal healthcare decisions, particularly when Illinois law already protects healthcare rights.

The Reproductive Health Act, passed in 2019, ensures abortion remains legal in the state and protects access to essential healthcare services. This law recognizes the importance of individual autonomy and privacy in healthcare decisions. It enshrines the principle that government should not interfere in personal healthcare decisions, and it protects healthcare providers who offer these services from unnecessary restrictions and criminal penalties.

Restrictive laws and regulations that seek to limit or ban abortion do not empower women but instead undermine their ability to make decisions about their bodies. Moreover, the concept of “sanctuary cities for the unborn” is problematic. It suggests Quincy would deny access to essential reproductive healthcare services.

We believe Quincy’s proposed legislation is illegal and will bring litigation from the state of Illinois. We will support the state in its ongoing efforts to protect women’s rights, especially healthcare rights.

We believe all individuals, regardless of their location, should have access to safe and legal healthcare options, including abortion, should they choose to exercise that option.

We believe a woman’s healthcare choices should be hers and hers alone, not her spouse’s or partner’s, and certainly not the City Council of Quincy, Ill.

We call upon our fellow aldermen and alderwomen and the citizens of Quincy to reject the idea of “sanctuary cities for the unborn” and instead support policies upholding personal autonomy, protecting access to healthcare and ensuring individuals have the freedom to make their own informed choices about their reproductive health.

Ben Uzelac and Jack Holtschlag
7th Ward aldermen
Quincy, Illinois