December 2021, Newsletter
County Affirms Reproductive Rights at a Critical Time
At the urging of County Supervisor Joe Simitian, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has affirmed its support for reproductive freedom and abortion rights, adopting a resolution to that effect at the Board’s Tuesday, December 7 meeting. The measure passed 5-0.
Simitian said he was moved to offer the resolution as a consequence of “hostile action” by state legislatures around the country, and by the “inhospitable” reception abortion rights advocates recently received at the U.S. Supreme Court in arguing the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health. Simitian noted that for almost 50 years Americans have largely assumed they could count on the Court’s Roe v. Wade decision to protect their reproductive freedoms. “But,” said Simitian, “it’s clear those rights are no longer guaranteed. Far from it,” he said.
The resolution also called on the United States Congress to protect reproductive freedom nationwide. “Healthcare for all has to include access to reproductive healthcare,” said Simitian. “This was an opportunity for our County to voice its commitment to reproductive rights, and indicate our support for those who have or will seek a medical abortion, and for the medical professionals who care for them.”