After the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, limiting healthcare access for millions of women in America, Councilmember Tammy

After the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, limiting healthcare access for millions of women in America, Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2 – South Seattle & Chinatown / International District) made the following statement:

“Today, the right-wing Supreme Court ignored a half-century of precedent and achieved their perverted agenda—to violate fundamental human and constitutional rights, to revoke people’s freedom of choice, and to compel them to give birth against their will.

We must resist falling into hopelessness even if this is a time of great grief.

In this nation, one in four women have had an abortion.

One of them is me.

And I’m horrified and indignant for the countless people, especially Black and Brown people across the nation, who will require abortion treatment today and every day in the future.

Make no mistake: by imposing forced pregnancy, the Supreme Court has revoked the right to self-determination and personal freedom.

I want everyone to know that since the Supreme Court’s draft ruling was released, our office has been working on legislation.

That measure aims to protect abortion-seeking employees, regulate crisis pregnancy centers, and provide safe passage for patients seeking gender-affirming care and abortion treatment at clinics in our city.

We are aware that access to reproductive healthcare, including care for abortion, will always be necessary.

To guarantee that everyone has the freedom to privacy and the choice of what to do with their own bodies, we must unite and organize.

We are aware that among countries with comparable economy, the US has one of the highest rates of maternal death.

Black mothers experience a particularly high rate of mortality because they are 3–4 times more likely than white mothers to die during pregnancy. For women of color, the statistics are comparable. This must change.

Generational effects will result from the harm caused by this Supreme Court. I am aware of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to invalidate the NYC gun statute, which had prohibited open carrying of firearms.

It is very worrisome and indicative of their priorities that they can simultaneously claim that states cannot pass rules limiting the constitutional right to keep and carry guns and that they can overturn a right to access reproductive healthcare.

The two presidents who lost the popular vote appointed five of the justices who voted to overturn this ruling.

The majority of Americans are NOT represented by this court. In actuality, sizable majority across the US oppose abortion restrictions and support reproductive rights, including access to birth control. More than 7 out of 10 respondents agree that abortion should still be permitted.

The pursuit of justice has its ups and downs.

The decision today is negative.

But I’m not going to lay still. Abortions will continue to be performed, the fight for reproductive justice will go on, and I will continue to lend my support in any way I can.