HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/5/2022 Item 5g, Francis
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Emily Francis <emilyfrancis@mac.com>
Sent:Monday, July
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:RE: Resolution in Support of Reproductive Freedotem 5.g
Attachments:Statement to Council on Reproductive Rights.docx
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
________________________________
Please see attached letter.
Respectfully,
Emily Francis
1
Emily Francis
660 Perkins Lane
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
RE: Item 5.g
July 4, 2022
To the Honorable Mayor Stewart and City Council Members,
While it may be a forgone conclusion that this council will approve this resolution
affirming support of reproductive freedom, the act of writing a letter and speaking publicly
tonight matters. What happened at the Supreme Court in the Dobbs decision was t he product
of decades of collective action by a minority of our country who has focused single -mindedly on
restricting reproductive freedoms. Polling shows that there isn’t a single state in the country
where more than 30% of the population supports a federal ban on abortions. Regardless, there
are those who are denying the popular will of the people and as we all know this decision will
fall hardest on the poorest in our country.
Much has been said about the potential ripples of this decision. The references in Dobbs
to Obergefell and Griswold make clear that the elimination of federal protection of abortion
rights is not the end of this story. As a student and teacher of history we have seen this play
out before with the slow chiseling of rights leading to a sense of hopelessness and self-
censorship from a people who become exhausted by the constant threats to their ability to
safely exist and make decisions that are best for themselves and their families. Because these
decisions disproportionally target those who are already vulnerable and existing on the margins
it imperative that those who can speak up and those who have power, wield it in the service of
our neighbors who cannot.
So, showing up matters, but so does maintaining our commitment as members of this
community. By passing this resolution we demonstrate to our neighbors that we believe in their
rights and will actively work to protect and codify those rights in whatever capacity we can.
Thank you for prioritizing reproductive freedom this evening and using your power to stand up
for human rights.
Respectfully,
Emily Francis