CALIFORNIA, USA — The Democratic governors of California, Washington and Oregon on Friday vowed to protect reproductive rights and help women who travel to the West Coast seeking abortions following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“California, Oregon and Washington are building the West Coast offense to protect patients’ access to reproductive care,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a video statement announcing the states’ plans along with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
The three states issued a joint “multi-state commitment” saying they will work together to defend patients and medical professionals providing reproductive health care.
They also pledged to “protect against judicial and local law enforcement cooperation with out of-state investigations, inquiries, and arrests” regarding abortions performed in their states.
The liberal West Coast states anticipate an influx of people seeking abortions, especially as neighboring conservative states move to outlaw or greatly restrict the procedure.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
- The U.S. Supreme Court ends nearly 50 years o f constitutional protection for abortion.
- ‘Heightened alert’: Abortion providers brace for ruling
- Harris discusses abortion laws with state attorneys general
- Some clinics halting abortions while bracing for Roe’s fall
- If Roe falls, some DAs won't enforce abortion bans
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