When LaDonna Prince moved her abortion clinic from Indiana to Illinois after Roe v. Wade was overturned, she thought she’d found a safer haven. But the reality on the ground has been anything but welcoming.

Illinois, where abortion remains legal, has become a critical access point for people traveling from states with bans. Prince chose Danville, just an hour from her old location, to make the clinic accessible to both staff and patients. However, she soon discovered that local attitudes can be just as challenging as restrictive laws.

Despite Illinois’ protective laws, the Danville community has pushed back hard. The city council passed an anti-abortion ordinance in 2023, and Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. supported it. While state law overrides local policies, the message was clear: the clinic wasn’t wanted.

Resistance didn’t stop there. Contractors refused to work on the building, and it took nearly a year to find a plumber willing to help. In a shocking incident, a man crashed his car into the clinic and tried to set it on fire, causing $500,000 in damage. These setbacks have delayed the clinic’s opening indefinitely.

“It’s not just about state laws,” Prince said. “It’s about what happens in the community.”

This isn’t an isolated issue. Since the Dobbs decision in 2022, more than 70 independent abortion clinics have closed nationwide—nearly half in states where abortion is still legal. Experts say local hostility, funding challenges, and threats from anti-abortion extremists make it tough for clinics to stay open, even in supportive states.

Danville’s leaders didn’t respond to requests for comment, but their actions speak volumes. Prince’s experience underscores a stark reality: even in states where abortion is protected, access can hinge on the local community’s willingness to support it.

For now, Prince remains determined to open her clinic, but the road ahead is uncertain. “We’re not asking for special treatment,” she said. “Just the same support any other business would get.”