Divided between two states, the town at the heart of America's abortion debate

December 22, 2025

The town of Bristol, straddling the Virginia-Tennessee border, has become a battleground over abortion access after Tennessee banned the procedure following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling. Bristol Women's Health clinic relocated less than a mile from Tennessee to Virginia to continue operating legally, but now faces multiple challenges including an eviction notice from landlords opposed to abortion and various local ordinance campaigns. Anti-abortion activists are using local government regulations as a strategy to restrict abortion access in states where it remains legal, viewing Bristol's location as strategically important since it serves millions of southerners from nearby ban states.

Who is affected

Approximately 9,200 people who traveled to Virginia for abortions last year
Millions of southerners in nearby states where abortion is banned who rely on Bristol for access
155,000 people nationally who crossed state lines for abortions last year
Bristol Women's Health clinic, its owner Diana Derzis, and staff
State Line Abortion Access Partnership (SLAAP) and its co-founders Barbara Schwartz and Kimberly Smith
Residents of Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee (population around 44,000)

What action is being taken

Bristol's Circuit Court is hearing the clinic's case against an eviction notice on December 22
Pastor Mark Lee Dickson has filed an ordinance to enforce the Comstock Act in Bristol
The Family Foundation and anti-abortion activists are continuing efforts to restrict the clinic's operations
SLAAP is assisting people traveling into Virginia to access abortion services at Bristol Women's Health

Why it matters

Bristol's unique location on the state border makes it the closest legal abortion provider within several hours for millions of people living in southern states with near-total abortion bans. The case represents a broader national trend where anti-abortion activists are shifting tactics to local government ordinances and regulations when they cannot achieve restrictions at the state or federal level. The outcome will affect abortion access across a wide geographic area and could set precedents for how local bylaws can be weaponized to restrict constitutionally protected medical procedures in states where abortion remains legal.

What's next

Bristol's Circuit Court will rule on the eviction case on December 22
If evicted, clinic owner Diana Derzis hopes to relocate within Bristol, Virginia, though suitable facilities are limited
Pastor Dickson's Comstock Act ordinance awaits consideration by the Bristol City Council
Anti-abortion activists have stated they will continue efforts to close the clinic regardless of the court's decision

Read full article from source: BBC