The U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, ending nearly 50 years of constitutional protections for abortion, leaving millions of women in the country without protection for their reproductive choice.
Thus, by a 6-3 vote, the court upheld a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks, joining dozens of states across the country that had previously pledged to pass similar laws following the ruling.
In response to the Supreme Court decision that resulted in the loss of the constitutional right to abortion, the mayor of San Francisco, London N. Breedannounced the first steps being taken to prepare for local impacts and to ensure that San Francisco continues to present itself as a place that proudly protects and supports a woman's right to choose.
With input from leading abortion rights organizations, the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women (DOSW) has identified the next steps San Francisco will take to prepare for any influx of out-of-state travelers and minimize the harm of the ruling.
"This decision is devastating for women and for our country. San Francisco will continue to proudly protect women's health and the fundamental right to choose. This is a dark day, but we will keep fighting and not give up," Mayor Breed tweeted following the announcement.
Through a press release, he said DOSW has begun initiating a Bay Area coordination table of providers, advocacy organizations and local government agencies to better understand the services available throughout the region and what may be needed, as well as to prepare for any statewide intervention that may be forthcoming.
In addition, she said, she has begun to measure the local capacity of abortion care services to understand what services are available to women in San Francisco and what impacts they may have as a result of this decision.
DOSW is distributing $250,000 in emergency grants to local organizations for immediate capacity building and comprehensive service support so that women can continue to receive the care and support they need as demand for services potentially increases.
"San Francisco has proudly served for generations as a place that respects fundamental civil rights, including a woman's right to choose. The ramifications of this Supreme Court ruling on public health, poverty and so many subsequent consequences remain to be seen, but right now, women are afraid of what this means for them, for their daughters, for all of us," Breed emphasized.
"San Francisco cannot correct national policy, but we can make sure that the people of this city are safe from anyone who wants to criminalize health care and that we are working with the entire Bay Area to prepare for any impact of this decision," he added.
For her part, Kimberly Ellis, director of DOSW, detailed that the measure will lead to failed clandestine abortions and with it the death of women.
"There will be failed home and clandestine abortions, and women will die needlessly. We have a moral obligation to do everything we can to protect the lives of living, breathing mothers, daughters, sisters, partners and wives. No person should have to choose between giving birth and dying, but that is exactly our new reality," he said.
According to an NBC News poll, 63 percent of Americans said in May that they did not believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, compared to 30 percent of people who wanted the abortion rights ruling overturned.
In addition, a combined 60 percent of Americans nationwide said abortion should be legal all the time ?37 percent? or legal most of the time ?23 percent?
By party, 84 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of independents want abortion to be legal, compared to only 33 percent of Republicans.
MoveOn has partnered with Planned Parenthood Federation of America , Women's March , UltraViolet , American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) , NARAL Pro-Choice America , SEIU , the Liberate Abortion coalition of reproductive justice organizations and leaders, and partners across the country to organize "We Won't Go Back" actions, have joined together across the country, to demonstrate against the Supreme Court's decision.
In the Bay Area, there will be several marches. So far, it is expected that this Friday there will be in San Francisco and Napa.
- Protest at the Phillip Burton Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate Ave. ? 5pm
- Pro-Choice Rally at Powell & Market ? 5pm
- Old Courthouse Brown Third / Napa ? Time/date TBD ? Currently in the process of being organized.
While for tomorrow, Saturday, a protest is planned at the San Jose City Hall at 10:00 a.m., however, details may still be modified.
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