Responding to Alabama's abortion ban
Posted: Sat May 25, 2019 11:11 am
Colleagues:
I wanted to make sure anyone looking for the resolution in the previous thread is able to find it easily here, below. Thank you again for participating in the important dialogue around the resolution I have drafted in response to Alabama’s newly signed anti-abortion law. I believe that the current resolution incorporates the feedback I have received, including insight from community advocates NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, Lilith Fund, and Planned Parenthood Greater Texas, such that we have landed on a resolution that I hope you will be proud to support.
These advocates shared many of the concerns that were discussed regarding possible unintended consequences of low-income families and workers who may be affected by an economic boycott. Clearly, any actions we take must be aimed at affecting those who would choose to attack reproductive rights and not hurt the lives and well-being of the women and families who we are fighting to help.
The resolution as written does not call for an immediate boycott; what it does is:
1) reaffirm our longstanding commitment to protect abortion as healthcare,
2) oppose abortion bans, specifically, as a dangerous political attack aimed at marginalized communities,
3) further explore the potential impacts of an economic boycott of Alabama so that we can continue to have data-informed conversations regarding this strategy and leverage our community’s opposition to dangerous new abortion bans,
4) explore ways to proceed with a boycott that would avoid negatively affecting low-income individuals. One creative strategy to make an impact on Alabama without unintended consequences that is outlined in the resolution is to look at how Austin could proceed with boycotting, and encouraging individuals to boycott, those companies that are among the top political donors to the Alabama Governor and the Alabama legislators who voted for the anti-abortion bill, and
5) support the Women’s Health Protection Act, pending federal legislation designed to ensure women throughout the country have access to safe, legal reproductive healthcare.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts throughout this process and I look forward to continuing our work together in solidarity and support of abortion rights to the best of our ability.
This resolution appears on the June 6, 2019, agenda as item 47. You can find the item (and the rest of the agenda) here: https://austintexas.gov/department/city ... EG.htm#047
Leslie
I wanted to make sure anyone looking for the resolution in the previous thread is able to find it easily here, below. Thank you again for participating in the important dialogue around the resolution I have drafted in response to Alabama’s newly signed anti-abortion law. I believe that the current resolution incorporates the feedback I have received, including insight from community advocates NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, Lilith Fund, and Planned Parenthood Greater Texas, such that we have landed on a resolution that I hope you will be proud to support.
These advocates shared many of the concerns that were discussed regarding possible unintended consequences of low-income families and workers who may be affected by an economic boycott. Clearly, any actions we take must be aimed at affecting those who would choose to attack reproductive rights and not hurt the lives and well-being of the women and families who we are fighting to help.
The resolution as written does not call for an immediate boycott; what it does is:
1) reaffirm our longstanding commitment to protect abortion as healthcare,
2) oppose abortion bans, specifically, as a dangerous political attack aimed at marginalized communities,
3) further explore the potential impacts of an economic boycott of Alabama so that we can continue to have data-informed conversations regarding this strategy and leverage our community’s opposition to dangerous new abortion bans,
4) explore ways to proceed with a boycott that would avoid negatively affecting low-income individuals. One creative strategy to make an impact on Alabama without unintended consequences that is outlined in the resolution is to look at how Austin could proceed with boycotting, and encouraging individuals to boycott, those companies that are among the top political donors to the Alabama Governor and the Alabama legislators who voted for the anti-abortion bill, and
5) support the Women’s Health Protection Act, pending federal legislation designed to ensure women throughout the country have access to safe, legal reproductive healthcare.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts throughout this process and I look forward to continuing our work together in solidarity and support of abortion rights to the best of our ability.
This resolution appears on the June 6, 2019, agenda as item 47. You can find the item (and the rest of the agenda) here: https://austintexas.gov/department/city ... EG.htm#047
Leslie