Roe vs Wade

June 24th, 2022

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This morning the clock was set back 50 years. The news that Roe v. Wade has been overturned is beyond devastating, it is absolutely egregious. I am ready to get to work. This is a blatant attack on people with uteruses created exclusively to control and harm. 

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Let's be clear, this is more than an attack on reproductive rights, it is an attack on marginalized communities. Reproductive justice is disability justice, it is racial justice, it is LGBTQ+ justice. Today’s ruling has horrific consequences for legal precedent and endangers the rights of so many more individuals in the future. The decision made it clear that Supreme Court Justices are coming for LGBTQ+ rights next. This weekend Seattle will celebrate the resilience and rights of the LGBTQ+ community and on Monday we will prepare for the next fight. Let us not forget that the first Pride was a riot. 

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Although I hold a heavy heart today, I remain determined to fight for justice. In Washington, we are lucky to have strong laws on the books but there is still more that we can do. Here is how I will take action. 

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1. Ensure there are always places to receive reproductive care. People will always have abortions, it's just a matter of how and where. This is life-saving care. One way we can ensure this is by having oversight during hospital mergers between secular and religious institutions. We cannot let these mergers threaten access to reproductive services. We must pass bills like SB 5688 that protect access. 

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2. Support our neighbors. As a state with protected birth control and abortion rights, we must prepare to help our neighbors. When, not if, they come to Washington for safe reproductive care we must welcome them with open arms. To do this we have to increase access to care along our borders and we have to protect our providers from potential legal action from other states. 

Today we are grateful that Washington has been preparing for this moment and that we can mourn, reflect, and rest. Tomorrow we organize and get to work. We will not go back. 

In solidarity, 

Darya