SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Governor Gavin Newsom reaffirmed his support for a women's reproductive rights Friday, upon the release of a California proclamation and a letter signed by two other states that calls recent abortion restrictions an attack on safe and legal healthcare that will put women's lives at risk.
"The government forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy against her wishes and against her judgment of her own well-being and self-interest — is a fundamental violation of individual liberty and freedom," the three-state statement reads.
In an effort to safeguard a woman's right to choose, the joint statement signed by Gov. Newsom, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, all Democrats, urges other states to review laws and enact protections, programs and policies similar to those found in California, Oregon and Washington.
"Even as states around the country enact extreme laws that violate women’s rights and undermine access to safe and legal healthcare, we will uphold women’s equality and liberty by protecting their reproductive freedom," the statement reads. "Join us."
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CALIFORNIA PROCLAMATION
In addition to signing his name to the statement calling recent abortion laws "...an escalating attack on the freedom of women and families to determine their futures," Gov. Newsom also issued the "Proclamation on Reproductive Freedom," in California.
The proclamation details the state's history of reproductive freedom and highlights reproductive services available to women - including abortion services for women of all incomes.
In the ninth paragraph, Newsom seemingly welcomes women from those states to come to California to also "fully exercise their reproductive rights."
"For four decades, California has worked to make reproductive freedom a fundamental right for all Californians by guaranteeing women control over their bodies, privacy regarding their most intimate choices and the right to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy," Newsom says in the proclamation. The full document can be read here.
In response to the Friday release, Planned Parenthood of California offered a thank you to the three governors, acknowledging that California, Oregon and Washington took a stand to protect reproductive health care and education.
“Access to safe, legal abortion and affordable birth control is under assault like never before, and the need for bold action and leadership during this time is crucial," Jodi Hicks, the acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said in a media statement. "Reproductive freedom champions in California understand that abortion is health care, and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California applauds their commitment to protecting and expanding access to reproductive freedom.”