The Atlanta City Council on Monday voted unanimously to allocate $300,000 in taxpayer dollars for a local organization to fund abortions for the city's residents, an attempt to get around Georgia's pro-life laws.
Access Reproductive Care-Southeast, which will receive the money, provides "funding and logistical support" to women seeking abortions. Atlanta's city government passed the measure to provide abortion funding in anticipation of Georgia's fetal heartbeat bill, which will ban most abortions after six weeks. Because of the bill, Access Reproductive Care-Southeast will likely use the money to subsidize out-of-state travel for abortions.
The Atlanta measure also handicaps investigations of abortion facilities, saying that "no city funds shall be used to record and/or investigate reports of abortion care" and that police should "place reports of abortion-related care at the lowest possible priority."
Atlanta is one of several blue cities in red states that have tried to evade pro-life state laws. A group of prosecutors funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros in June signed a letter pledging to flout abortion laws.
Councilwoman Liliana Bakhtiari, who sponsored the Atlanta measure, cited racism and inflation as two reasons the city has to subsidize abortions.
"Some of the legislation we see coming down from the states will predominantly impact people of color," Bakhtiari told Fox 5 Atlanta. "Cost of living is at an all-time high, inflation rates are through the roof."
Pro-life advocate Suzanne Guy told CBS46 Atlanta that abortion is not the answer.
"Women deserve real help, real hope, and real resources, and [the Atlanta measure] is not real help for women," Guy said.