Bristol: A Town Divided by Abortion Laws and Community Struggles

Mon Dec 22 2025 10:32:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Bristol, a town split between Virginia and Tennessee, navigates the complex landscape of abortion access in a post-Roe world, where its only clinic faces eviction amid ongoing local tensions.

Bristol, a unique town straddling the line between Virginia and Tennessee, showcases the divides in abortion access following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling. With Virginia allowing abortions while Tennessee restricts them, Bristol Women's Health clinic has become a focal point for both those seeking services and anti-abortion activists. As the clinic battles an eviction notice, the community confronts deep ideological rifts, raising questions about local health access and broader implications for reproductive rights.

Bristol, with a population of about 44,000, is divided by state lines between Virginia and Tennessee. This division has created significant tension regarding abortion access, especially following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that granted states the power to legislate abortion independently.

In Tennessee, abortion remains illegal, pushing residents seeking such services to cross the state line into Virginia, where Bristol's only abortion clinic, Bristol Women's Health, continues to operate legally. Despite this option, activists warn that challenges to abortion access persist as anti-abortion groups compete to limit the clinic's operation.

Barbara Schwartz, co-founder of the State Line Abortion Access Partnership (SLAAP), describes the ongoing struggle as akin to 'whack-a-mole', where anti-abortion tactics quickly arise in response to any gains made for abortion rights.

The clinic is currently embroiled in a legal battle against eviction initiated by its landlords, who previously attempted to deny the clinic's existence due to personal opposition to abortion. A decision regarding the clinic's lease is expected from the Bristol Circuit Court on December 22.

In addition to legal challenges, local anti-abortion activists are strategizing new ways to restrict the clinic's operations through city regulations, further complicating the abortion landscape in this divided town.

The situation in Bristol reflects broader patterns observed since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, where states that allow abortion have seen an influx of residents from states with stricter regulations. In the past year, thousands traveled to Virginia specifically for abortion services.

Activists on both sides of the debate agree that Bristol's unique position—caught between restrictive and permissive abortion laws—highlights the complexities of the ongoing national conversation around reproductive rights.