In the upcoming November General Election, Californians will have the opportunity to vote on an amendment to the state Constitution enshrining the right to an abortion and contraception. Proposition 1 ensures that neither court nor Legislature can strip reproductive rights away from women. We, the undersigned here, are endorsing Proposition 1 and encourage our colleagues, friends and the community members we represent to do the same.
Endorsing Proposition 1 is simple. By visiting the Yes on 1 website (yeson1ca.com) supporters can sign on and add their voices to this critical amendment. Current endorsers include Parent Parenthood Affiliates of California; the National Women’s Political Caucus; Black Women for Wellness Action Project; California Medical Association; Essential Access Health; NARAL Pro-Choice America; and the California Democratic Party among a growing list of supporters.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade has removed a fundamental right, simultaneously endangering the lives of women and unduly impacting their families. And that is why California needs Proposition 1. Specifically, the proposed state constitutional amendment will protect personal choices related to reproductive care by declaring that individuals have an express right to have an abortion and use — or not use — contraceptives.
Many states with so-called trigger laws passed by their legislatures in anticipation of the ruling immediately outlawed abortions and, in some cases, enabled the prosecution of physicians and individuals who assist women in seeking abortions in other states. As many as 25 states have enacted significant restrictions already and many have a near total ban. Moreover, the labyrinth of laws and risks to providers are essentially forcing facilities to simply close, eliminating access not just by law but geography. Worse yet, some state legislatures have already targeted contraceptives like Plan B and intrauterine devices, thereby increasing the risk for unwanted pregnancies while simultaneously eliminating access to abortions.
As states begin to eliminate access, California is already experiencing an influx of women seeking reproductive health care. California must continue to be a leader in protecting the rights of all people. Tragically, it has already been reported that a 10-year-old rape victim and her family were forced to leave her home state to obtain medical services. This is not acceptable. Californians must protect all children and women. In the coming weeks, our growing coalition will host events and provide information as we fight to protect every woman’s reproductive rights and ensure abortion remains accessible in our state. This will include fundraising efforts, rallies, marches and communicating with like-minded supporters to help them engage in this fight. The campaign to support Proposition 1 is already underway but will require our local support.
The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe stripped away 50 years of fundamental reproductive rights that had been guaranteed to every woman in our nation. The reversal of Roe is unequivocally part of a continued effort to subjugate and oppress women. We will not relinquish these basic rights over our individual bodies. We cannot shrink from this fight. We must, as women before us did, rise to the occasion and reverse this attack. We will organize. We will donate. We will march. We will vote.
The fight has just begun.
Richa Awasthi is the mayor of Foster City, Julia Mates is the mayor of Belmont, Diane Papan is the deputy mayor of San Mateo and Lisa Gauthier is the vice mayor of East Palo Alto.
(7) comments
Thank you for getting the word out about this critical, needed and timely change to our state's constitution.
Thank you for sharing the web site. I have signed on. Collective action works. We must all stand together for human rights, whether for women, pregnant people, Black lives matter, LBGTQ, immigrants, or any of the other many people currently under attack. A few minutes or a few hours of your time every week or every month are the drops that flow together to be a powerful force.
Thank you for this joint statement from amazing women leaders representing cities across San Mateo County. Supporting women's rights strengthens our communities!
Just because a proposition is passed doesn’t mean the proposition can’t be contested in Court and then declared to be unconstitutional. Abortion is not a “right” and was never enshrined in the US Constitution, making the Supreme Court’s decision correct in returning that decision to the States. As for your story about the 10-year old traveling across state lines, even the left-wing Washington Post has been unable to verify that story. And the White House has refused to offer proof of Biden’s claim. I can understand why abortion is important, but when you include false claims and lies in your commentary, do you really think that’ll sway people on the fence to “your side”?
Terence Y - I think that all sources now agree that this rape occurred and the abortion was carried out, so I'm not sure why you claim that this story is filled with false claims and lies. Perhaps you didn't have a chance to see more recent reporting? On July 9 various publications were still trying to confirm the story about a 10-year-old crossing state lines to get an abortion. And the Washington Post said they had only one source at that point. But since then more confirmation of this case has come in, including the arrest of a rapist, which allowed them to check the genetics of the fetus against the rapist. As a result the Post and the Wall Street Journal (among many others on the right and the left) confirmed the story. The Post updated their article on July 13: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/09/one-source-story-about-10-year-old-an-abortion-goes-viral/. In addition they have published other articles, including one that reports that Fox News has confirmed the account, even though most hosts emphasize the rape rather than the abortion. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/14/abortion-girl-rape-fox-carlson-watters-ohio/
To add to your excellent point, Nickie, Ohio Attorney General David Yost, has stopped denying the rape happened and has turned to attacking the doctor who provided care to this 10-year old child. He has a history of trying to deny children abortions. In 2019, he sought to ban an 11-year-old rape survivor from having access to an abortion as well.
Nickie, thank you for your response and the article links (although Washington Post links are iffy, at best). I’m not questioning whether a rape occurred or whether an abortion was carried out – I’m questioning whether the 10-year old needed to cross state lines for an abortion. Your linked articles don’t answer that question. Other sources have said that under her circumstances, an abortion would be allowed in Ohio. Good luck to you, but regardless, abortion is not a federal “right” and each state is allowed to choose their path, whether you agree with them, or not; propositions passed in CA can still be contested and held to be unconstitutional, or not.
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