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[Austin Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Press Conference]
FUENTES.I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND I'M JOINED HERE TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILOR JOSE VELAZQUEZ OF DISTRICT ONE.
TODAY, THE NEED TO AFFIRM REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE URGENT.
THE THE US HAS RATIFIED THREE TREATIES, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE US HAS BEEN UNDER REVIEW.
IN FACT, THE US HAS BEEN UNDER FIVE REVIEWS UNDER THIS TREATY IN GENEVA FOR OUR REGRESSION ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE HAS CALLED ON ALL LEVELS OF US GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION AND TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CRITICAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.
THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE AND THE SUBSEQUENT OUT OF TOUCH ABORTION BANS PAINTS A CLEAR PICTURE OF JUST HOW FAR SOME WILL GO TO CONTROL OUR BODIES AND LIMIT OUR FREEDOMS. BUT HERE IN AUSTIN, WE REFUSE TO STAND IDLY BY AND AS LOCAL POLICYMAKERS.
WE HAVE A DUTY UNDER THIS HUMAN INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS TREATY, AND WE'RE IMPLEMENTING AND PUTTING INTO PRACTICE EXACTLY WHAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS ENCOURAGED US TO DO.
THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH WE WILL HAVE RIGHT HERE, THIS RESOLUTION IS OUR DECLINATION DECLARATION OF OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS HUMAN RIGHTS.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO ALIGNS OUR GREAT CITY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS, AND IT'S A NECESSARY STEP IN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY FOR ALL REPRODUCTIVE CARE SHOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER BE CRIMINALIZED, AND NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THOSE THAT THEY LOVE AND CALL HOME TO FIND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND TO LAWMAKERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SO HELL BENT ON TAKING AWAY OUR RIGHTS AND TO THOSE SUING OUR CITY FOR TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR JOURNEY.
I ASK YOU THIS, WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH OUR OWN BODIES? WHY ARE YOU SO OBSESSED WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR DOCTORS? AND BETTER YET, WHY DON'T YOU MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS? WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SEND THIS CLEAR MESSAGE.
AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON HAS THE FREEDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN BODY WITHOUT FEAR.
TO FURTHER EXPRESS AUSTIN CITY'S COUNCIL COMMITMENT TO UPHOLD THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME REMARKS FROM ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR PRO TEM LESLIE POOLE, WHO'S CURRENTLY RUNNING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
SHE SAYS, I AM PLEASED TO ONCE AGAIN STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN AFFIRMING THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, OUR HUMAN RIGHTS HERE IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE KNOW THE HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF WOMEN WHO ARE BEING DENIED EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE DUE TO MISPLACED IDEOLOGY.
WITH THIS ACTION, WE JOIN IN SOLIDARITY WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION AND THE GLOBE TO AFFIRM A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND CONTROL HER OWN BODY.
AND YOU CAN COUNT ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO DO JUST THAT.
SO NOW WE ARE GOING, OH, FIRST I WANNA THANK OUR CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER, VELASQUEZ MAYOR, PRO TEM POOL, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE ALTER FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE FIRST UP WILL BE LUCY ARLO WITH JANE DUE PROCESS.
SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF OUR CHAMPIONS AT CITY COUNCIL, FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN THIS SPACE.
WE COULD NOT BE HERE IN THIS MOMENT WITHOUT YOU, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS INCREDIBLE RESOLUTION.
UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JANE'S DUE PROCESS.
WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS THAT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING TEXAS TEENS HAVE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL BIRTH CONTROL AND ABORTION CARE THROUGH ADVOCACY, INFORMATION SHARING, AND FUNDING SUPPORT.
AT JANE DUE PROCESS, WE SEE THE DIRECT IMPACT OF TEXAS ABORTION BANS EVERY DAY IN OUR WORK, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TRAVELING FOR ABORTION CARE.
IN THE TIME SINCE ROE VERSUS WADE WAS OVERTURNED, WE HAVE HELPED OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE TRAVEL OUT OF TEXAS FOR ABORTION CARE.
WE FIELDED COUNTLESS CALLS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE, CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, AFRAID OF CRIMINALIZATION AND UNSURE OF WHERE TO GO.
WE'VE HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO PUT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES ON HOLD TO TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM THEIR HOME IN ORDER TO SEEK HEALTHCARE.
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WHIMS OF ANTI-ABORTION.
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BY PUBLICLY AFFIRMING THAT ABORTION IS A HUMAN RIGHT.THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL LETS YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE WITHOUT SHAME, STIGMA, OR LACK OF LEGAL CARE AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
JANE'S DUE PROCESS IS GUIDED BY THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FRAMEWORK, A FRAMEWORK CREATED BY BLACK WOMEN IN 1994 AND ROOTED IN HUMAN RIGHTS.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE DEMANDS THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR OWN REPRODUCTION AND SEXUALITY.
THIS RESOLUTION HONORS THAT LEGACY IN THE 30TH YEAR OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE MOVEMENT.
NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED THE HUMAN RIGHT TO BUILD THEIR FAMILIES WHEN AND HOW THEY SEE FIT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE OR LACK OF RESOURCES.
WE APPLAUD THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR TAKING THIS STANCE AND HOPE THAT OTHER TEXAS CITIES WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK IN MAKING THIS A REALITY.
AND THEN NEXT UP WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE IT? SURE.
AM I ON THE WRONG PAGE? PAGE? THERE WE GO.
NANCY CARDENA PENA WITH ABORTION ON YOUR OWN TERMS. ALL RIGHT.
UH, MY NAME IS NANCY CAR PENA.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 42, WHICH IS PROCLAIMING ABORTION AS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ABORTION ON OUR OWN TERMS CAMPAIGN.
WE ARE A CAMPAIGN THAT USES CULTURE AND ADVOCACY TO MAKE SURE THAT SELF-MANAGED ABORTION MAKES ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE WITHOUT STIGMA OR LEGAL RISK.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SELF-MANAGED ABORTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABORTIONS THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF THE FORMAL CLINIC SETTING.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICATION ABORTION, UM, THAT COMMONLY USES TWO, UH, MEDICATIONS CALLED MPR STONE AND MISOPROSTOL.
BOTH ARE EXTREMELY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.
UM, AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRITTEN TO CRIMINALIZE SOMEONE WHO IS SEEKING TO TERMINATE THEIR PREGNANCY, WE KNOW THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN AT THE BRUNT OF CRIMINALIZATION.
AND SO WHAT MAKES MEDICATION ABORTION OR SELF-MANAGED ABORTION? SOMETHING WITH THE RHETORIC OF BEING UNSAFE IS THE LACK OF RESOURCES, THE LACK OF INFORMATION, AND THE CRIMINALIZATION BY THE STATE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE DESERVE ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE, WHETHER THAT BE IN CLINIC OR WHETHER THAT BE WITH MEDICATION ABORTION, WHICH IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.
WE ARE HERE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT TEXANS STILL NEED ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THIS WORK.
UM, SO REALLY HUGE THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THIS AND OUR TEXAS PARTNERS OF COURSE.
UM, AND YEAH, THE WORK CONTINUES.
NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE KIANA ARNOLD WITH AIA CENTER.
I LEAD THE BIRTH JUSTICE WORK FOR THE AIA CENTER.
FIRST, AS A BLACK WOMAN, I STAND BEFORE YOU.
ALSO, ON BEHALF OF THE AIAA CENTER, AN ORGANIZATION DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE FULL LIBERATION AND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM OF BLACK WOMEN, GIRLS, AND ALL PREGNANCY CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS AT THE AIAA CENTER, A BLACK WOMAN FOUNDED AND LED REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ORGANIZATION.
OUR WORK CENTERS THE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES OF BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.
WE ARE IN UNEQUIVOCALLY DEDICATED TO THE FIGHT FOR FULL LEGALIZATION OF ABORTION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF AN ABORTION OF ABORTION HEALTHCARE.
BEING PART OF THIS RESOLUTION IS OF, IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CRITICAL ROLE OF HOLDING THE LEGISLATORS.
WE AND OUR COMMUNITY VOTE FOR ACCOUNTABLE IN THEIR DECISION MAKING.
AS WE'VE DONE IN A IN THE PAST, WE ARE CALLING ON THE PEOPLE THAT WE EMPLOY TO GUIDE LEGISLATION IN OUR NATION AND IN OUR STATE.
TO FINALLY DO THE RIGHT THING.
IN THIS MOMENT, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISTURBING AND VIOLENT HISTORY OF GYNECOLOGICAL PRACTICES IN THE UNITED STATES, PARTICULARLY AGAINST BLACK AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
DURING THE TIME WHEN BLACK WOMEN WERE DENIED THE ABILITY TO GIVE CONSENT TREATED AS PROPERTY RATHER THAN HUMAN BEINGS.
THESE WOMEN BORE THE BURDEN, THE PAIN, AND THE VIOLENCE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING GYNECOLOGICAL HEALTH CARE.
THE SCIENCE AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WE RELY UPON TODAY WERE BUILT ON THE SUFFERING AND THE, AND THE EXPLOIT EXPLOITATION OF MY ANCESTORS.
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THAT BARRIERS ARE NOW PLACED IN THE WAY OF BLACK WOMEN AND PREGNANCY CAPABLE PEOPLE ACCESSING THE VERY HEALTHCARE THAT WAS CREATED ON THE BACKS OF OUR FOREMOTHERS.THE AFIA CENTER STANDS FIRM IN ITS COMMITMENT FOR THE FIGHT OF BLACK PEOPLE, BLACK WOMEN, BLACK WO HOLDERS, AND ALL PREGNANCY CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE LEADING THIS FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, AND WE DEMAND THAT ABORTION BE DECLARED A HUMAN RIGHT AND THAT ALL BARRIERS TO ABORTION ARE DISMANTLED.
LOCAL LAWMAKERS HAVE A DUTY UNDER INTER INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES, AND TODAY WE'RE CALLING ON THEM TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.
WHAT PUT INTO PRACTICE, PRACTICE EXACTLY WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS ENCOURAGED US TO DO.
AND THAT'S UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL WHO NEED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
BE CLEAR, ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE, AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
IT IS VITAL THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION FEDERAL MANDATES LIKE THE HYDE AMENDMENT, RESTRICTIONS ON INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ABORTION, TRAP LAWS, MANDATORY ULTRASOUNDS, WAITING PERIODS, BIAS COUNSELING, AND SO-CALLED PERSONHOOD MEASURES, OR A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
THESE POLICIES CREATE DANGEROUS BLOCKAGES TO ACCESSING EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE AND CONSTITUTES DIRECT ATTACKS ON ABORTION HEALTHCARE.
THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COUNCIL ESTABLISHED IN 2005 HAS MADE THIS MANDATE TO INVE, HAS MADE THE MANDATE TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS.
BLOCKING ACCESS TO SAFE HEALTHCARE IS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
POLICIES LIKE THOSE LISTED ABOVE, LEAD DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED, BEING SUBJECT TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE, FACING CRIMINALIZATION FOR STERILIZATION, UNNECESSARY C-SECTIONS, OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE, AND OFTEN TO DEATH IN OUR STATE, WHICH ENFORCES A GROSS AND VIOLENT TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION.
VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, SEXUAL ABUSE AND INCEST AND CHILD ABUSE ARE DENIED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL ABORTION CARE.
THIS IS A PROFOUND VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS AND DIGNITY AT THE SAME TIME.
WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN THIS NATION.
YET BLACK WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO GIVE BIRTH AND THOSE WHO ARE FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY DYING DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE LOSS AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
THE FEAR CENTER STANDS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS FIGHT.
WE ARE ASSERTIVE AND UNWAVERING IN OUR COMMITMENT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM OF BLACK WOMEN AND ALL PREGNANCY CAPABLE PEOPLE.
WE DEMAND THAT ABORTION BE DECLARED A HUMAN RIGHT AND THAT ALL BARRIERS TO ABORTION ARE TURN TORN DOWN.
WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL JUSTICE IS ACHIEVED AND EVERY PERSON HAS AUTONOMY TO MAKE A, TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER THEIR OWN BODIES AND THEIR OWN LIVES.
AND ALSO WANNA WELCOME MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
SHE'S BEEN STEADFAST ON THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE AND AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM.
UH, NEXT WE'LL HAVE HALEY LOCKETT WITH MOVE TEXAS.
MY NAME IS HALEY LOCKETT AND I'M THE CAMPUS ORGANIZER AT MOVE.
UT I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WE UNITE TO FIGHT FOR OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN AUSTIN AND TO BECOME A MODEL OF PROGRESS FOR OUR STATE AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE HERE AS A, AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN HISTORY, A MOMENT WHERE OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES ARE MAKING THE DIFFERENCE.
THE TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION IN OUR STATE IS NOT JUST A POLICY WE ARE GOVERNED BY.
IT IS AN ASSAULT ON OUR AUTONOMY, OUR HEALTH, AND OUR DIGNITY.
THIS BAN DOES NOT REFLECT THE PE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
IT REFLECTS THE DESIRES OF THE FEW WHO SEEK TO CONTROL AND OPPRESS US.
THE HIGHNESS SCOTUS DECISION FROM TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE COUNTLESS ANTI-CHOICE LAWS ENACTED IN OUR STATES OVER THE PAST DECADES, PUT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US AT EVEN GREATER RISK DENYING BASIC HEALTHCARE AND FORCE INDIVIDUALS INTO DANGEROUS AND DESPERATE SITUATIONS.
POST ROE, PREGNANT TEXANS HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL 10 TIMES FARTHER FOR AN ABORTION.
IF A TEXAN NEEDED AN ABORTION TWO YEARS AGO, THEY'D HAVE TO TRAVEL AN AVERAGE OF 44 MILES TO GET ONE TODAY.
FOR YOUTH OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT YOUTH, RURAL YOUTH, THESE BARRIERS ARE ONLY EXACERBATED DUE TO THE IMPACT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM ON HEALTHCARE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE THE LEAST ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE,
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WHICH IMPACTS ABORTION RATES AND ACCESS.BUT TODAY, ALTHOUGH THE ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE RESOLUTION, AUSTIN CHOOSES TO ADVANCE ABORTION AS A HUMAN RIGHT.
WHEN NATION, NATION WHERE NATIONAL AND STATE LEADERSHIP HAVE OUR BACKS AGAINST THE WALL, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO ALL THEY CAN TO ENSURE THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY CAN LIVE WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS AND THAT OUR CHOICES ARE PROTECTED.
THIS RESOLUTION IS HELPING ALL AUSTINITES ACROSS RACE AND NEIGHBORHOOD RE REFORM OUR FREEDOM TO CHOOSE.
YOUNG VOTERS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT AT STAKE EACHS ELECTION CYCLE AT OUR FUTURES.
AND OUR FUTURES DEPEND ON THE DECISIONS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAKE TODAY.
I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY AS OUR CITY MAKES A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO BODILY AUTONOMY AND EXPANDING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACCESS.
SO ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, AND ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OURSELVES WITHOUT UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TOGETHER, WE WILL ACCLAIM OUR RIGHT, WE WILL PROTECT OUR FUTURES, AND WE WILL ACHIEVE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND WHEN IN DOUBT, WE WILL DO, AS DAVID GUNN DID, LIVE BY THE VALUES, TO REACH A WORLD WHERE NO PERSON SEEKING ABORTION, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES OR STATUS, HAS TO FEEL ANYTHING OTHER THAN COMPASSION WITH THE ABSENCE OF SHAME.
JUST THANK YOU FOR Y'S COMMENTS AND FOR, FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
I, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AND ESPECIALLY PROUD TO BE A, A CITY HERE IN TEXAS.
WE KNOW WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRICTEST ABORTION BANS IN THE COUNTRY, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND, UH, AND FIGHT FOR OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
SO WITH THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I'D LOVE TO ASK.
THE CITY IS OBVIOUSLY FACING A LAWSUIT, AS WE KNOW, OVER THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR WOMEN TRAVELING OUT OF STATE TO SEEK ABORTIONS.
I THINK THE KNEE JERK REACTION WHENEVER THERE IS A LAWSUIT AS THE ROOM KIND OF JUST TAKES A STEP BACK AND, AND DOESN'T COMMENT.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE OBVIOUSLY TAKEN A VERY PUBLIC STANCE AFFIRMING ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS HUMAN RIGHTS.
WHY MAKE SUCH A PUBLIC AFFIRMATION OF THAT WHEN THERE IS A LAWSUIT AT HAND? WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE HAVE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHTS AND, UH, TO FIGHT US IN COURT, THAT WE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK AND TO STAND STRONG EVEN AGAINST THOSE REGRESSIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.
UH, WHAT WE KNOW WITH THE BUDGET THAT WE JUST APPROVED AND, AND I JUST TALKED TO OUR CITY LEGAL THIS MORNING, IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE IN THE SPRING WE'LL HAVE AN, UH, OPEN SOLICITATION PROCESS TO, UH, PARTNER WITH, UH, LOCAL NONPROFITS IN PROVIDING, UH, ASSISTANCE, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITES NEEDING, UH, ABORTION CARE OUTTA STATE.
AND SO I THINK IT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION AND THAT OUR ACTION REFLECTS OUR VALUES THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY.
ALRIGHT, SO WITH THAT, I THINK, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY.
AND I, WE WILL DO A GROUP PHOTO AND, UM, AND CONTINUE WITH THE COUNCIL MEETING.