Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr has cast the deciding vote for the intended abortion prevention ordinance.
The Danville City Council was tied with a 7-7 vote, but after a long wait, and a brief question on if the issue could be tabled, Mayor Williams voted “yes,” which led to some extremely loud “Rickey has got to go” chants outside the building as spectators started exiting, along with cheers from the pro-life crowd.
Several hundred people, pro-life and pro-choice and very vocal, were already inside and outside the Danville Municipal Building at 5 PM Tuesday night, one hour before meeting time. Sixty-six people spoke during public comment, with a 49-17 advantage in favor of the ordinance. The Police and Fire Departments were there in full force, not allowing additional spectators in after the crowd reached a safety limit.
(Middle Picture) Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates asks for safety and cooperation from the crowd prior to the start of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
At one point, it was rumored that Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who had warned the city not to pass this, was outside trying to get in. But Mayor Williams later stated to the crowd that that was not true.
Reviewing the situation, a clinic from the Indianapolis area is planning to relocate to the old Dillman Eye Care at 600 North Logan and offer abortions. The ordinance is designed to prevent the reception by mail of any medication, article, or thing designed or intended for producing an abortion.
Executive Director of the Illinois Pharmacist Association Garth Reynolds spoke during public comment, saying that the ordinance violates the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act, and a complaint with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulations will be filed against Danville.
AUDIO: The city of Danville is acting outside of its authority. And we’re not here to talk about the political aspects of the issue, it’s more of the ordinance being enacted, and the restriction of the practice of pharmacy.
Alderwoman Tricia Teague holds up papers from research she had done on affected prescriptions, pro-life demonstrators applaud the mayor’s deciding vote, action outside after the vote was loud from both sides of the aisle.
Alderwoman Tricia Teague made the point that some drugs used for procedures other than abortions would effectively be banned from entering Danville through the mail, an opinion confirmed by City Corporation Counsel James Simon. Pharmacist Carry Wiggins, who also spoke during public comment, agreed.
For the pro-life crowd, it was a narrow, hard-earned victory, as Father Timothy Sick from La Salette Academy stated.
AUDIO: You know I think it’s just one step forward and little by little. It’s just one step forward, it’s a good action, and I think the aldermen made the right choice.
Meanwhile, the ACLU’s Chaundre White said the City of Danville had been warned about what would happen if the vote was “yes.” She says they’ll be talking with the Attorney General.
AUDIO: We’re evaluating the next steps for challenging this ordinance. It is unenforceable, it is illegal; and I know we’ll be taking action.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr and the full City Council prior to vote being taken.
A passed amendment moved by Eve Ludwig is designed to not have the resolution enforceable until it is confirmed by a subsequent court decision. But Vice-Mayor Bob Iverson pointed out that ONE, lawsuits will still come that will cost the city money; and TWO, if it’s not enforceable until a subsequent court decision, the clinic would actually be able to set up operations in the meantime.
