Arkansas’ Cleburne, Crawford Counties Declare Themselves Pro-Life
In the past week two counties in Arkansas have enacted resolutions declaring themselves pro-life.
On Thursday the Cleburne County Quorum Court adopted a pro-life resolution. The resolution reads,
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence declares that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution states that the policy of the State of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth; and
WHEREAS, it is the duty of state and local governments to protect the unalienable right to life of every person within their respective jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court stated in Poelker v. Doe, 432 U.S. 519 (1977), that the United States Constitution does not forbid a municipality, pursuant to democratic processes, from expressing a preference for normal childbirth instead of abortion.
Therefore, let it be resolved that it be the policy of Cleburne County, Arkansas, to promote and protect the dignity and humanity of all persons, at all stages of life from conception until natural death, and that Cleburne County, Arkansas, declares itself to be a Pro-Life County.
On Monday the Crawford County Quorum Court passed a similar resolution, reading,
WHEREAS, we affirm that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; and,
WHEREAS, Crawford County desires to preserve its right to promotion and expression of its Pro-Life designation, as affirmed by Arkansas Act 392 of 2021; and,
WHEREAS Amendment 68 to the Constitution of the State of Arkansas makes clear that we are to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, to the extent permitted by the Federal Government; and,
WHEREAS, it is the duty of governments, such as ours, to protect this unalienable right to life of every person within our jurisdiction.
NOW, THEREFOR, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE QUORUM COURT OF CRAWFORD COUNTY, ARKANSAS, that Crawford County, Arkansas, declares itself to be a Pro-Life County, committed to the protection of all lives, including the lives of the unborn.
Resolutions like these send a powerful, pro-life message. They leave no doubt about where Arkansas’ local leaders stand when it comes to abortion.
Earlier this year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 392 of 2021 affirming that municipalities in Arkansas can designate themselves as Pro-Life.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that municipalities can adopt pro-life policy positions like these resolutions.
The City of Springdale adopted a pro-life resolution in 2019, and Washington and Benton counties have passed pro-life resolutions this summer.
In fact, any city, town, or county in Arkansas can pass a pro-life resolution like the ones that these counties have passed.
Public opinion polling shows Arkansans are overwhelmingly pro-life. We hope other communities will pass their own pro-life resolutions in the coming weeks.
If you would like to learn more about how you can pass a pro-life resolution in your community, give us a call at (501) 375-7000.
