The threat to abortion access is an existential threat to our democracy

Hi , The threat to abortion access is an existential threat to our democracy! First and foremost, I am sending you this note in solidarity with all of the emotions you may be feeling in response to this week’s news. On Monday night, a Supreme Court brief was leaked indicating that Roe v. Wade will be imminently overturned.  Your rage, fear, sadness, and grief are all valid. And I hope you are taking care of yourself while sitting with these big emotions. A cup of tea, a good cry, and taking to the streets are just a few places to start. And I encourage you to lean on your community right now — solidarity is one of the greatest forms of healing in times like these. Before I indulge in my own thoughts, actions, and rage, though, I want to make it abundantly clear: Abortion is still legal in all 50 states. You can still access abortion care here in Somerville and across MA. At the end of this email, you can find information on how to get an abortion, as well as how to support your fellow neighbors across the state and country who are in need of one. Local Impact: Abortion Access in Massachusetts There is some not-bad news: in Massachusetts, we have a solid foundation of abortion protections that will hold firm, regardless of what the Supreme Court does. 16 months ago, we passed the ROE Act in MA, which prevents what happened with SB8 in Texas. That means if Roe v. Wade gets overturned by the Supreme Court, you will still be able to access abortion care in Massachusetts. The ROE Act removed all criminalization language and cleaned up the laws on the books since 1974. It also crucially removed barriers to access for 16 and 17 year olds in need of reproductive health care.  I am also proud to co-sponsor and advocate for Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund’s priority bills: increase access to medication abortion, full spectrum pregnancy care, equitable birth access and safety, LGBTQ+ inclusive sexual education, to name a few.  We did the right thing by codifying the right to abortion in MA. But, we can and must be doing a hell of a lot more for people seeking reproductive health care. At this time of existential crisis for our democracy, we must be thinking as boldly as possible about how we can center reproductive justice because we are far from all set here in MA.  For starters, crisis pregnancy centers — unlicensed institutions disguised as medical centers that deter people from choosing an abortion through misleading and often medically inaccurate persuasion techniques — are abundant across Massachusetts. Just last month, the Somerville City Council voted to ban CPCs, for which I am deeply grateful. The State House has the ability and responsibility to do that statewide. Furthermore, the ROE Act, while a crucial step in codifying the right to an abortion in MA, was chiseled down from a much more comprehensive and justice-informed original version. I see two further changes we must pursue to our current abortion code: The ROE Act originally would have allowed for a full spectrum of reasons for an abortion beyond 24 weeks, including the physical or mental health of the pregnant person. However, the final language that was passed essentially only allows it in the case of lethal fetal anomaly. The health and wellbeing of a pregnant person is a valid reason to seek an abortion, and we should update the law to reflect that. Under current law, those under 16 who are seeking abortion care must either obtain parental consent, or if that’s not an option, judicial consent. For those who do not wish to go through the trauma of judicial bypass or who are unable to get parental consent, the only other way to obtain abortion care in MA is to get married.  There is no other medical care in MA that requires a judge to confirm the maturity of a patient before they are allowed to consent to their health care. We must remove all judicial bypass requirements for abortion care in Massachusetts in order to truly move towards reproductive justice.  National Impact: What Dems across the country need to prioritize Let me be abundantly clear: the Supreme Court is now an illegitimate institution. The majority of justices (5 out of 9) were appointed by presidents that didn’t win the popular vote. Our system is deeply flawed, undemocratic, and in need of structural change. With a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, as well as a Democrat in the White House, we not only have the ability, but the responsibility to codify the right to abortions across the country. We should be expecting and demanding more from our elected officials at the national level, who could pass legislation immediately to protect the right to an abortion.  If we are serious about reproductive justice, platitudes of “We’re with you” are not enough. This is an existential crisis of our democracy, and I encourage you to join me in calling upon our national legislators to act swiftly to protect the right to abortion. Find out how to contact your legislators here. Accessing and Supporting Abortion Care in MA If you or someone you know is considering or seeking abortion care, you can find a comprehensive list of providers at https://abortiondocs.org/states/MA/.  In addition to legal barriers, there are numerous other unnecessary obstacles to obtaining an abortion. In Massachusetts, abortions are not yet free for everyone — in fact, they can cost upwards of $600, and insurance companies are not required to cover them. Abortion funds are available to help people pay for their abortion and logistical expenses like travel, lodging, child care, doula, and translation services.  Abortion Funds in MA Eastern MA Abortion Fund (DONATE) (GET HELP) Jane Fund of Central MA (DONATE) (GET HELP)  Abortion Rights Fund of Western MA (DONATE) (GET HELP) For a full list of abortion funds across the US, visit abortionfunds.org/funds.  Acknowledging Reproductive Justice Leaders I would like to acknowledge that we would not be where we are today without the advocacy and leadership of groups like Sister Song and the countless Black, Indigenous, Queer, and Trans people who have led the reproductive justice movement. For decades, they have been fighting to protect the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities. The right to an abortion is a human right. Abortions should be free, safe, and easily accessible for everybody.  Office hours Next Saturday, May 14th from 9am to 10:30am, we will be having special office hours in Ward 3 with all of your state and local elected officials: Senator Pat Jehlen, Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, and School Committee Member Sarah Phillips. You can meet us socially distanced at 11 Wesley Park (my backyard). Please let me know if you would like to join remotely and we will do our best to accommodate. See you soon! It is truly an honor to serve you all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions, want to advocate for any bills, or need any help from government services.  Follow on Twitter Follow on Facebook See you in the streets, Erika Committee to Elect Erika Uyterhoeven 11 Wesley Park Somerville, MA 02144 United States Official State Rep website: www.RepErika.com Campaign website: www.ElectErika.com If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please (Unsubscribing is not supported in previews).