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ACLU withdraws 'Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn' lawsuit after East Texas cities make amendments

The cities amended the ordinances by decriminalizing the organizations in the language used.

TYLER, Texas — The American Civil Liberties Union has withdrawn its lawsuit against seven cities in Texas that have enacted ordinances outlawing abortion within city limits. Each of these seven cities has also proclaimed itself a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn,” joining a movement spreading across the state of Texas.

The American Civil Liberties Union announced Feb. 25 it had filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Lilith Fund and the TEA (Texas Equal Access) Fund to challenge abortion ban ordinances passed in seven East Texas cities. The cities named in the lawsuit were the cities of Waskom, Naples, Joaquin, Tenaha, Rusk, Gary and Wells. The lawsuit was dropped on Tuesday.

RELATED: Gilmer becomes sixth Texas city to ban abortion, declare itself 'sanctuary city for the unborn'

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The ACLU’s decision to withdraw its lawsuit comes after those cities amended the ordinance by decriminalizing the organizations in the language used. The lawsuit noted that both groups are labeled “criminal entities” under the abortion ordinances. It accused the ordinances of being unconstitutional and violating the abortion funds’ rights to free expression and association under the First Amendment.

RELATED: Lindale city council stops short of outlawing abortion despite community push

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RELATED: After Waskom, East Texas anti-abortion group plans to extend 'sanctuary' status to other cities

Read more from CBS19's newspaper partner, the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

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