Less than six months after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the State of California has added explicit protections for reproductive freedoms including abortion care and contraception.
On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom was joined by state leaders to issue statements on yesterday’s implementation of Proposition 1, which amends the state constitution to enshrine protections for reproductive freedom.
“Californians stood up to the rollback of fundamental rights this year, ensuring women have a right to abortions and reproductive freedoms,” said Governor Newsom. “No other state responded as comprehensively as California in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade nearly 6 months ago. These fundamental rights are now protected in our state for generations to come.”
According to a press release sent out by the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, California’s constitutional amendment has taken place as politicians in other states continue their attacks to limit or outright ban access to abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care.
In Indiana, the state Attorney General has threatened a health care provider who assisted a 10-year-old who had been raped. In Florida Governor DeSantis is pursuing more extreme restrictions. In Texas, lawmakers are continuing their push for extreme and dangerous anti-abortion legislation, and Virginia Governor Youngkin is seeking new budget allocations to jail women and doctors over abortion.
“California is a reproductive freedom state through and through – and today we make that undeniably clear by enshrining the right to choose in our state’s Constitution,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “During this dark moment when reproductive rights are under attack across the nation, California continues to be a bright light for freedom, fundamental rights, and safety. As California’s chief law enforcement officer, I will continue to protect and preserve the reproductive freedom of all Californians.”
Anticipating the possible reversal of Roe v. Wade, California leadership announced SCA 10, which became Proposition 1, to shore up protections for abortion care and contraception in California. This effort was part of California’s historic response to protect reproductive health care, including abortion care, and cementing the state as a national leader and beacon of hope for people across the country.
“The fundamental essence of this constitutional amendment is reason, compassion and justice. In passing this, California has shown that it will defend those principles,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. “We will protect and defend a woman’s right to privacy and autonomy when it comes to making deeply personal decisions about her reproductive health. That is what is reasonable, compassionate and just. It is what is right.”
