Summary
The town of Bristol is split between Virginia and Tennessee. Abortion is banned in Tennessee, but legal in Virginia, leading the town's abortion clinic to relocate across the state line. The clinic now faces legal issues with its landlords in Virginia, while anti-abortion groups are working to restrict abortion access at the local level.
Key Facts
- Bristol is a town split between the states of Virginia and Tennessee.
- In Tennessee, abortion is illegal, but it remains legal in Virginia.
- The town's only abortion clinic, Bristol Women's Health, moved to the Virginia side after the 2022 Supreme Court decision allowing states to set their own abortion laws.
- The clinic's landlords are trying to evict it, claiming they were not informed about its abortion services.
- A court case in December will decide if the clinic can stay in its current location.
- Anti-abortion groups are using local laws to try to restrict abortion access in Bristol.
- Over 9,200 people traveled to Virginia last year for abortions, making it a key location for those seeking the procedure from other states where it's banned.
- Bristol serves as a crucial access point for many seeking legal and safe abortions in the southern U.S.
