Fresno, CA – Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) and Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D- Fresno) joined a coalition of community leaders and health care advocates in the Central Valley, urging voters to protect reproductive freedoms in California by voting YES on Proposition 1.
While existing law in California does provide protections for reproductive rights, a recent opinion from the United States Supreme Court puts those protections in jeopardy. Proposition 1 would enshrine the right to abortion care and the right to choose or refuse contraceptives into the California Constitution, protecting essential reproductive freedoms from political influence.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to unwind the abortion care protections of Roe v. Wade has only steeled California’s resolve to codify reproductive rights into our state constitution,” said Senator Anna Caballero. “We will not go backwards. I’m voting YES on Proposition 1 to ensure our freedom to choose abortion care will be safeguarded against extremist attacks for generations to come.”
“All women have the right to control their own bodies and to make their own medical decisions,” said Assemblymember Adam Gray. “Proposition 1 is the only way to guarantee that we keep politics and politicians out of your healthcare”
“As a physician, I strongly support a woman’s right to choose and the right to reliable access to abortion and contraception services for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or where they live,” said Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula. “Passing Proposition 1 is about protecting reproductive rights in perpetuity; and making sure medical decisions, like abortion care, will always be made in the privacy of the relationship between a patient and their doctor.”
“The health of the people of Fresno is inextricably linked to the health of all California and the nation – and it is our responsibility to stand up and call out every attack on our health care freedoms,” said Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria. “We stand strong in Fresno because we know that abortion is a personal health care decision and it shouldn’t involve judges or politicians. I hope voters join me by saying Yes on 1 next week.”
“Proposition 1 protects every person’s freedom to make their own health care decisions, including decisions about abortion and contraception,” said Socorro Santillan, Public Affairs Director for Planned Parenthood Affiliates Mar Monte. “Planned Parenthood serves millions of Californians and we are committed to ensuring that the law in California is clear and simple: abortion and contraception are legal, available and enshrined in the California State Constitution.”
“Without Proposition 1, millions of Californians will be left without concrete protections over their essential freedom to choose abortion care,” said Fabiola DeCaratachea, Director of Communications for the Dolores Huerta Foundation. “We cannot afford to take those freedoms for granted any longer. Join me in voting YES on Prop 1 to make sure our health care rights will always supersede the influence of any politician or elected official.”
“As a faith leader, I believe we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Rev. Tim Kutzmark, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. “Right now – that means voting YES on Proposition 1 to establish the right to choose abortion care as an essential freedom in California.”
