Two billboards paid for by abortion advocates have gone up outside the Northeast Texas town of Waskom which had previously declared itself a "sanctuary city for the unborn."

The billboards have the slogan "Abortion is freedom" and list a website address for a national organization.

Waskom, a small Ark-La-Tex city in Harrison County, Texas, took the rare step of passing an ordinance even though the city had no abortion providers within its jurisdiction.

It was described as a "prevenative" measure.

City leaders also said at the time of passage that they expected a lawsuit that they said could even "end up being decided by the Supreme Court."

Nevertheless, the city has drawn public criticism from some women's groups for the decision since an all-male city council made the decision.

However, Waskom has also received praise from pro-life groups.

At the same time, the staunchly conservative town's "sanctuary city" stance has drawn the attention of another Texas town, Mineral Wells.

Mayor Christopher Perricone of Mineral Wells said he was interested in implementing an ordinance similar to the one in Waskom as well, even though his city also does not have any clinics operating abortions.

Roswell, New Mexico also saw passage of a resolution "supporing the unborn" in March 2019.
Screenshot of one of the two billboards outside Waskon, Texas paid for by national organizations.