DMO Statement on the Leaked Decision to Overturn Roe

Make no mistake – the leaked Republican Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe and Casey is deeply immoral, and puts every woman in the United States in jeopardy.

An end to Roe returns us to a nation where the wealthy will continue to have access to safe abortions, but Americans without means will be left to fend for themselves. We will return to an America where entire wards of hospitals are dedicated to patients who have gone septic or poisoned themselves because they lacked access to a safe and legal abortion.

Most abortions are undertaken by people who already have children – parents who are making the responsible choice for themselves, their family, and their future. The majority of Americans support the right to a safe and legal abortion. Congress must act now to enshrine the right to choose into law, and protect Americans from this despicable attack on our most fundamental rights.  

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Please join Planned Parenthood Action Fund in calling on supporters to rally Tuesday, May 3 at 5 p.m. local in town squares, in front of federal courthouses and federal office buildings. In DC, we’ll be on the steps of the Supreme Court all day to declare #HandsOffOurBodies and abortion care is health care. In the coming days, we will provide additional organizing guidance regarding larger mobilization efforts as we work to channel supporter outrage and energy into a clear and strong national response. In the meantime, please encourage supporters to pledge to continue to mobilize for abortion access. https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/j24GFQnOukubW16eBEIJig2

Please share these breaking posts from PPFA: 1, 2, 3, PPAct, and Alexis McGill channels. 

Statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America president and CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson, as well as top points in English and Spanish are below.  As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

“Let’s be clear: Abortion is legal. It is still your right.

“This leaked opinion is horrifying and unprecedented, and it confirms our worst fears: that the Supreme Court is prepared to end the constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade. While we have seen the writing on the wall for decades, it is no less devastating, and comes just as anti-abortion rights groups unveil their ultimate plan to ban abortion nationwide. Understand that Planned Parenthood and our partners have been preparing for every possible outcome in this case and are built for the fight. Planned Parenthood health centers remain open, abortion is currently still legal, and we will continue to fight like hell to protect the right to access safe, legal abortion.”

The press releases are available in English here and Spanish here. 

Top Points: 

• Let’s be clear: Abortion is still legal. As of today, it remains your constitutional right. 
• But tonight’s leak makes it clear that our deepest fears are coming true. We are at a crisis moment for abortion access. 
• The court seems prepared to end the constitutional right to abortion. This outcome is as dangerous as it is unprecedented, and will open the floodgates for states across the country to ban abortion. 
  • This is not the end goal for the anti-abortion movement. They said it themselves this week: Their ultimate goal is to pass a nationwide abortion ban that would block abortion access in every state in the country. 
• The court, which is now dominated by justices hostile to our freedoms, has failed this country. We are devastated, we are furious, and we will fight back.
• The threat to abortion access across the country is not hypothetical–our right to abortion is being crushed right now. The consequences of this impending Supreme Court decision will be swift and devastating for communities nationwide: Overturning Roe means 26 states could swiftly move to ban abortion–including 13 states with laws that could immediately go into effect. That means in half the country  people would no longer will have power over their own bodies and their own lives. 
  • That means 36 million women — nearly half of the women of reproductive age (18-49) in the United States — plus people who can become pregnant, could soon lose abortion access. 
• We know the harm that will come from this decision, because we’ve seen them play out in Texas: People who do not have access to the financial resources and support they need to travel out of state are forced to carry pregnancies, flee their state for care, or seek abortion outside of the health care system. 
  • Barriers to accessing abortion and other health care services have always existed — like finding child care, taking time off of work, and navigating the costs of transportation and lodging associated with traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles. But this decision means the number of people dealing with these obstacles to get the essential health care they need will skyrocket.
  • The people who this decision will most harm are front and center in our response: Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other people of color disproportionately feel the effects of abortion bans and restrictions, a product of this country’s legacy of racism and discrimination.

• The Supreme Court is acting in defiance of the American people. Research shows abortion bans and restrictions are deeply unpopular: 
  • A Washington Post-ABC poll finds that 75% of people say decisions on abortion should be left to the woman and her doctor, including 95% of Democrats, 81% of independents and 53% of Republicans.
  • A Gallup poll finds that 80% of the American public think abortion should be legal

• We are in a fight to make sure everyone has the power to control their own bodies, lives, and futures. We deserve elected officials –at all levels of government–and judges who believe that as well. We’ll keep fighting in every state in the nation – this won’t stop us.
  • No judge, no politician, no ban should ever block your personal medical decisions or set the course for your life. Abortion access should not be based on your ZIP code, income level, or immigration status.

Spanish Top Points:

• Seamos claros: el aborto es legal. Al día de hoy, sigue siendo tu derecho constitucional.
• Pero la filtración de esta noche ha dejado claro que nuestros peores temores se están haciendo realidad. Estamos en un momento de crisis para el acceso al aborto. 
• La Corte parece preparada para acabar con el derecho constitucional al aborto. Este resultado es tan peligroso como sin precedentes, y abrirá las puertas a que estados a lo largo del país prohíban el aborto. 
  • Esta no es la meta final del movimiento contra el derecho al aborto. Lo dijeron ellos mismos esta semana: el objetivo es aprobar una prohibición nacional al aborto que bloquee el acceso en cada uno de los estados del país. 
• La Corte, que está actualmente dominada por jueces hostiles a nuestras libertades, le ha fallado al país. Estamos devastados, estamos furiosos y lucharemos contra esto. 
• La amenaza al aborto a lo largo del país no es hipotética; nuestro derecho al aborto esta siendo destrozado en este momento. Las consecuencias de esta decisión inminente de la Corte Suprema serán rápidas y devastadoras para comunidades a lo largo del país. Aunque esta decisión no es final y el aborto sigue siendo legal, si esta decisión se emite 26 estados estarían preparados para moverse rápidamente para prohibir el aborto, incluyendo a 13 estados con leyes con cláusulas de activación que podrían entrar en vigor de manera inmediata. Esto significa que en la mitad del país las personas no tendrán más el poder sobre sus propios cuerpos y vidas.  
  • Esto significa que 36 millones de mujeres, casi la mitad de las que están en edad reproductiva (18-49 años), y más personas con capacidad de gestar, podrían perder pronto el acceso al aborto. 
• Sabemos que el daño que esta decisión tendrá, porque hemos visto lo que ha ocurrido en Texas: las personas que no tienen cómo acceder a los recursos financieros y al apoyo que necesitan para salir de sus estados se ven obligadas a continuar embarazos en contra de sus voluntades, buscar como abortar fuera del sistema de salud. 
• We know the harm that will come from this decision, because we’ve seen them play out in Texas: People who do not have access to the financial resources and support they need to travel out of state are forced to carry pregnancies, flee their state for care, or seek abortion outside of the health care system. 
  • Las barreras para acceder al aborto y a otros cuidados de salud siempre han existido. Pero esta decisión significa que el número de personas lidiando con obstáculos para acceder a cuidados de salud va a aumentar considerablemente. 
  • Le damos prioridad a las personas a quienes esta decisión les hará más daño: las personas negras, latinas, e indígenas, y otras personas no blancas, que ya sufren de forma desproporcionada los efectos de las prohibiciones y restricciones al aborto como consecuencia del legado de racismo y discriminación de este país.

• La Corte Suprema actúa en desafío a las personas de este país. Las investigaciones señalan que las prohibiciones y restricciones al aborto son profundamente impopulares: 
  • Una encuesta del Washington Post con ABC encontró que 75% de las personas creen que las decisiones sobre el aborto deben depender solo de una mujer y su médico, incluyendo a 95% de los demócratas, 81% de los independientes y 53% de los republicanos.
  • Una encuesta de Univisión señaló que 55% de los latinos apoyan las protecciones de Roe vs. Wade.
  • Una encuesta de Gallup encontró que 80% del público americano cree que el aborto debe ser legal

• Generaciones antes que nosotros han luchado sin descanso para obtener y proteger los derechos de los que gozamos hoy. Planned Parenthood no se detendrá. Estamos en esta lucha para asegurarnos que todas las personas tengan el poder de controlar sus propios cuerpos, vidas y futuros. Merecemos oficiales electos, a todo nivel del gobierno, y jueces que crean esto también. Seguiremos luchando en todos los estados del país; esto no nos detendrá.
  • Ningún juez, ningún político, y ninguna prohibición deben bloquear tus decisiones médicas personales ni dirigir el curso de tu vida. El acceso al aborto no debe depender del código postal, el nivel de ingreso, ni el estatus migratoria de una persona.

Democratic Municipal Officials stands firmly with the people of Ukraine against the unprovoked and illegal invasion by Russia. We applaud the determination and bravery of the Ukrainian people, and want to recognize the efforts of our elected counterparts abroad in protecting, guiding, and providing for their constituents during wartime.

The nation of Ukraine has a right to self-defense, and the defense of Democracy against violent threats is an enduring legacy of the American people. We encourage the United States to continue providing aid to Ukraine in a timely manner as the need arises.

As elected officials across America, we encourage local leaders to do their part to support the people of Ukraine. Municipal officials should welcome Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence into their communities, working with state and federal agencies to house, provide supplies, and grant asylum. We also support American cities that choose to divest from Russian businesses for the duration of the conflict, as well as from companies that provide material support for the Russian war effort.

The light of Democracy is precious and must be defended from acts of tyranny. We urge a speedy and peaceful end to Russia’s invasion. The people of Ukraine are in our thoughts and our hearts, and American cities will do their part to forever support the free people of the world.

Signed,

The National Board of Democratic Municipal Officials

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Fellow DMOs,

In light of the ongoing economic hardships endured by both renters and leasers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DMO has approved the following sample resolution calling upon the federal government to provide aid to those in the renting market. We encourage you to not only pass this resolution in your own municipality, but send it to your federal representatives. DMO will continue to support you in calling upon the federal government to provide direct financial assistance to cities.

Sincerely,

Derek Green

Councilmember, Philadelphia, PA

DMO President

CITY/TOWN OF <INSERT MUNICIPALITY>, <INSERT STATE>

RESOLUTION CALLING UPON PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE U.S. CONGRESS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RENTAL HOUSING COMMUNITY

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact all aspects of our daily life; and

WHEREAS, to protect public health and slow transmission of this highly contagious communicable virus, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local departments of public health have issued various orders to close or limit a wide range of businesses and economic activity, causing widespread unemployment; and

WHEREAS, individuals exposed to COVID-19 may be temporarily unable to report to work due to illness caused by COVID-19 or quarantines related to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, individuals directly affected by COVID-19 may experience loss of income and expensive health care and medical coverage making it impossible to fulfill their rent payment obligations; and

WHEREAS, the inability of renters to pay their rent directly impacts the nation’s housing providers who depend on rent payments to make their mortgage and insurance payments, maintain their apartment buildings, pay their utility and refuse removal bills, and meet their property tax obligations that fund our community services; and

WHEREAS, the majority of our nation’s housing rental stock is owned and maintained by small and mid-sized housing providers who lack the reserves to absorb any loss of monthly rental income; and

WHEREAS, since the beginning of the pandemic, many housing providers have worked closely with their residents by creating flexible rent payment plans, waiving fees and connecting residents with social services; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments have created rental assistance programs to assist renters and housing providers make ends meet; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the impact on housing of this public health crisis, the United States Congress has approved $25 billion in direct emergency rental assistance; and

WHEREAS, these efforts do not begin to address the housing crisis facing the nation as ten million renters were projected by Moody’s Analytics to owe over $57 billion in back rent in 2020 alone; and

WHEREAS, specific and targeted federal assistance is needed in the areas of short-term Emergency Response, mid-term Recovery, and long-term planning to Rebuild our nation’s communities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor, and the City/Town Commission/Council of the City/Town of <Insert Municipality>, <Insert State>, call upon President Joseph R. Biden and the United States Congress to employ the full weight of the federal government to assist the rental housing community by incorporating the following policy priorities:

1. Short-Term Emergency Response
   1. Provide assistance to residents that have been financially impacted by the virus,
   2. Provide additional allocations to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to fill the assistance gap and respond more effectively to the outstanding need, and
   3. Promote flexible policies that enable grantees to widely and efficiently distribute rental assistance to all who are in financial need.
2. Mid-Term Recovery
   1. Transition from early pandemic emergency response to a deliberate and sustainable recovery plan that provides resources to impacted businesses and residents, and
   2. Promote policies that continue to narrowly target and better assist those with enduring and demonstrable financial need, and
   3. Fully fund existing programs, such as the HUD Section Housing Choice Voucher, to fund long-term housing assistance.
3. Long-Term Rebuilding
   1. Extend the “Build Back Better” initiative to the production of rental housing, with a focus on affordable, workforce and middle market housing, and
   2. Expand federal infrastructure priorities to drive new investment in rental housing, including affordable, workforce and middle market housing, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to President Joseph R. Biden; the Honorable Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; the Honorable Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer; and the members of the <Insert State> congressional delegation.

Adopted by vote of the City/Town Commission/Council of the City/Town of <Insert Municipality>, <Insert State>, on the <Insert Date> day of <Insert Month> 2021.

Mayor/Manager/Other

City/Town of <Insert City>, <Insert State>