ABINGDON, Va. — The Washington County Virginia Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 in favor of a resolution Tuesday night declaring the county to be an anti-abortion county. Before voting, the board heard from approximately 60 residents, who shared differing opinions regarding the resolution.
In her public comments to the board, Amy Sorensen, a resident of Abingdon, Virginia, emphasized abortion is still legal under Virginia law and that by voting in favor of the resolution and declaring Washington County to be an anti-abortion county, the board would be breaking the public’s trust.
“The Supreme Court decision leaves this decision to the state, and you are not the state,” Sorensen said. “This is an attack on the health and well-being of Washington County women and families and is in opposition to the state law of Virginia, which still allows Virginia women access to abortion care. You are breaking the trust that we, the voters, have placed in you.”
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Kelly Bremner, a resident of Emory, Virginia, in her comments to the board, pleaded for them to reject the resolution, as it does not take into account the full nuance of opinions that the residents of Washington County have on the issue. She also pointed out there are currently no abortion clinics with plans to open their doors in the county. “Please embrace the full nuance and perspectives that you’ve heard in this room here tonight. Please do not affirm to speak for us all on this matter. No matter your beliefs, hear us and leave our community as it is on this front,” Bremner said. “There are not lines of abortion clinics lined up to open up here. This resolution will make this county a harder place to live and practice medicine. Our access to comprehensive