HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-2022 Human Rights Commission - Special MeetingHuman Rights Commission
July 11, 2022
Special Meeting — 5:30 PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Agenda:
1. Call the meeting to order
2. Discussion on the recent US Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade
3. Adjournment
If you will need disability -related accommodations to participate in this meeting please contact Human
Rights Coordinator, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org. Early
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
DRAFT STATEMENT
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade brings an end to many individuals'
freedom to make private, informed reproductive healthcare choices with their doctors about their
own bodies. It also marks the reversal of nearly 50 years of progress towards reproductive
justice and the return to an era when a pregnant person's rights to bodily autonomy cease to
exist as soon as an egg is fertilized.
As a result, the United States now returns to a time where, depending upon the state in which
they live, pregnant people may be forced to seek out illegal and life -threatening procedures and
may even face criminal charges for accidental miscarriages or still births.
Among its many duties, the Human Rights Commission of Iowa City is tasked with educating the
public on human rights and illegal discrimination. We are concerned for young people whose
future education and other opportunities will be limited by state legislatures who claim control
over their reproductive decisions. We are concerned for physicians forced to weigh the benefits
of helping pregnant individuals against the consequences of assisting in or facilitating
procedures that terminate unwanted or even dangerous pregnancies. We are especially
concerned for the coming generations who may now have to bear the burden of advocating for
and establishing comprehensive, inclusive reproductive rights.
In order to truly understand the weight of the Supreme Court's decision, we must recognize that
the series of cases leading up to Roe laid the foundation for many of our constitutional rights to
privacy. This "right to privacy" was originally derived in 1965 from a somewhat nebulous concept
that Justice Douglass called a "penumbra" — an implied right to privacy that was a critical
prerequisite to make several articulated rights meaningful. This paved the way for other critical
human rights achievements, such marriage equality.
Today's Court has challenged this interpretation of the Constitution, stating that there is no
implied right to privacy.
The result could extend far beyond simply seeing safe abortion facilities and providers vanish in
many areas throughout the country. It could impact access to contraceptives; increase
criminalization of pregnant people and providers who seek to terminate even an unsafe
pregnancy; and empower private citizens to scrutinize — and, in some states, police — each
other's reproductive health choices rather than offering support for bodily autonomy and
reproductive freedom.
Finally, as a commission, we are most concerned for pregnant people of color, who will be
disproportionately impacted by this Supreme Court decision. We recognize that people of color
already face far greater risks when seeking health care in this country, especially leading up to
and during childbirth. We consider this Supreme Court ruling as a call to action. We must refuse
to forfeit 50 years of human rights progress, and we encourage Iowa City residents to:
1. Use your voice and your sphere of influence to amplify intolerance for this reversal of
human rights progress.
DRAFT STATEMENT
2. Attend and/or support local protests to collaborate with community members and amplify
their messages.
3. Speak openly about abortion and reproductive rights with your family members and
friends in an effort to decrease the stigma surrounding this highly divisive topic.
4. Vote in local, state -level, and national elections. We, the people, choose those who have
the power to make legislative decisions about human rights.
5. Engage with your representatives to articulate your support for the Women's Health
Protection Act.
6. Donate to grassroots organizations helping individuals access reproductive healthcare
services.
7. Continue to take all of these action steps until we are able to bring about substantive
change.