Measure will add the right to an abortion explicitly into the California State Constitution
Sacramento – Just one week after the Legislature overwhelmingly voted to put Proposition 1 on the ballot, dozens of health care and reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations moved to endorse the initiative, kicking off the ‘Yes on Prop 1’ campaign with a broad and diverse coalition. Today, the campaign launched its website along with the Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Proposition 1 will explicitly add the right to an abortion to the California State Constitution to ensure that, in California, the right to an abortion is a fundamental right of Californians and it is afforded the strongest protections available under the law. This would be consistent with existing state rights to privacy and equal protection. Proposition 1 would ensure that regardless of who or what party controls the government or the courts in the future, a person’s right to an abortion is protected in California.
“I’m proud to see the early support for Prop 1 and am thrilled to have such an incredible group of organizations come out to endorse our campaign,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, author of Prop 1 and co-chair of the campaign. “Prop 1 is going to add abortion rights directly into the State Constitution and ensure that important health care decisions stay where they belong – between a provider and that individual.”
Last month, Proposition 1 was authored by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and co-sponsored by several high profile health care and reproductive justice organizations. The measure passed with overwhelming support on the heels of the conservative Supreme Court’s undoing of Roe v. Wade.
“Black Women for Wellness Action Project (BWWAP), as a proud CA Future of Abortion Council steering committee member and co-sponsor of Prop 1, emphatically supports the constitutional amendment to enshrine access to abortion and contraception as fundamental rights in our state constitution as this would safeguard these rights,” said Onyemma Obiekea, Policy Analyst for BWWAP. “Prop 1 places the dignity and self determination of everyone in our state on the ballot. It is a critical step forward to ensure that everyone in California has equitable access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care and the basic human right to self autonomy. The Supreme Court has turned over a key basic health care decision and right to states, and Prop 1 makes it unequivocal that in this state, we value human dignity, basic human rights and the ability to determine if you want to become a parent.”
“The California Medical Association has long advocated that medical decisions – including those around abortion and contraception – should be made by patients in consultation with their health care providers,” said Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., Chair of the California Medical Association (CMA) Board of Trustees. “Proposition 1 will send the strongest possible message that reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right that will be protected in California with the fullest force of the law.”
“Access to abortion and birth control is essential for individual, family, and community health,” said Amy Moy, Chief External Affairs Officer and Acting President + CEO at Essential Access Health. “The ability to make personal decisions about our health and bodies must be protected as a fundamental and constitutional right. As other states move to strip millions across the country of their bodily autonomy, we can and must safeguard the right to abortion and birth control in California for generations to come.”
“Now is the time for bold action to ensure California can meet this moment and uphold its values as a Reproductive Freedom State. With Roe v. Wade overturned and state legislatures enacting bans on abortion care, Proposition 1 sends a clear message across the country that California will never stop protecting the freedom to decide,” said NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju. “NARAL Pro-Choice California is proud to sign on as a co-sponsor of this constitutional amendment and ensure everybody in California has protected access to abortion care and contraception.”
“Planned Parenthood affiliates in California provide essential health care, including abortion, to nearly one million patients each year in the more than 100 health centers across the state, ensuring every patient has the care they need to control their bodies and build their futures. Proposition 1 will ensure anyone who needs that care will still be able to access it in California,” said Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and Proposition 1 Co-Chair. “Planned Parenthood will never back down from fighting for access to abortion and birth control because no politicians, no bans, no judges should be in personal medical decisions. We are proud to fight alongside so many others in this bold and crucial effort to protect and reclaim the right to abortion in California with Proposition 1.”
Prop 1 will also protect how a person decides to use contraceptives and establishes guardrails that allow a person to make the choice themselves on how to use or refuse contraceptives, based on their individual needs.
“Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare (TEACH) is proud to support Prop 1 because abortion is a human right; abortion is healthcare, and every person in California deserves to make personal and medical decisions for themselves, their bodies, and their futures,” said Flor Hunt, ED of TEACH. “Prop 1 will ensure that the decision to have an abortion is made between the individual and their medical provider, free from political agendas.”
For a full list of the Yes on Prop 1 campaign, please visit Yeson1CA.com
For more information, please visit www.YesOnProp1CA.com
