>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I AM
TAMMY MORALES , A SEATTLE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER REPRESENTING
DISTRICT 2 . I ALSO SERVE ON
THE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US ON THIS EARLY MORNING
. WE ARE HAVING REPRESENTATIVES
FROM LEGAL ADVICE AND PLAN
PARENTHOOD AS WELL AS MY
COLLEAGUE, LISA HERBOLD . THANK
YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
I WILL MAKE REMARKS BUT I WANT
TO THANK OTHER SPEAKERS HERE
TODAY . WE HAVE KYM CLARK WHO
IS THE LEGAL DIRECTOR FOR LEGAL
VOICE.
AND THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION
AND LEGAL RIGHTS LITIGATION.
MS. CLARK'S WORK INCLUDES CASES
IN FEDERAL WORK AND STATE
COURTS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS
OF ALL PEOPLE FOR THE
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.
THERE ARE POLICIES IN BOTH
WASHINGTON AND IDAHO.
SHE HOLDS A JD FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON A BA
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.
NEXT WE HEAR FROM THE DIRECTOR
OF PRO-CHOICE WASHINGTON FOR
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN
WASHINGTON STATE. A BACKGROUND
IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND WORKING
WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
WORLD WITH THE BILL AND MELINDA
GATES FOUNDATION, THE CLINTON
FOUNDATION, OPERATION AMNESTY
AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL.
SHE HAS A DEGREE IN
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH FROM JOHNS
HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. MIX THE
MANAGER FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD
ALLIANCE ADVOCATES. SHE BRINGS
HER BACKGROUND AS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER INTO THE WORK SHE
DOES TO FIGHT FOR THE
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, ECONOMIC
JUSTICE AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS.
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM MY
COLLEAGUE, LISA HERBOLD ,
REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1.
COUNCILMEMBER IS ALSO ON THE
BOARD OF HEALTH WITH ME AND OUR
OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING
TOGETHER ON THIS LEGISLATION
THAT I AM HAPPY TO BE
COSPONSORING WITH HER . THAT IS
THE LINEUP TODAY AND WE WILL
JUST PASS IT OFF TO ONE
ANOTHER.
SO, WE ARE HERE TODAY AFTER
WEEKS OF ONSLAUGHT AND ATTACKS
ON HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT. I KNOW THE PAST
MONTHS HAVE BEEN HEAVY FOR MANY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ON JUNE
24th, THE SUPREME COURT
DISREGARDED 50 YEARS OF
PRECEDENTS AND TOOK AWAY A
PERSON'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE BY
FORCING PEOPLE TO GIVE BIRTH
AGAINST THEIR WILL BY VIOLATING
HUMAN AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
. WHILE THIS DECISION HAS LED
TO UNSPEAKABLE SORROW, FURY,
AND ANXIETY, WE MUST NOT LET IT
LEADS TO DESPAIR. 1 IN 4 WOMEN
HAVE HAD AND ABORTION IN THIS
COUNTRY, INCLUDING ME. I AM
TERRIFIED AND OUTRAGED THAT
PEOPLE NEEDING ABORTION CARE
TODAY AND IN EVERY DAY COMING,
AND PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND
BROWN FOLKS ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY, THEIR PROTECTION IS IN
JEOPARDY. MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS
RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT IS
MANDATING PREGNANCY AND TAKING
AWAY THE RIGHT TO SELF-
DETERMINATION AND FREEDOM.
WHILE WE IN SEATTLE AND IN
WASHINGTON HAVE THE SECURE RIGHT
TO ABORTION, TOO MANY ACROSS
THE COUNTRY DO NOT.
FROM A NEW MISCIBLE STANDPOINT,
I AM FOCUSING ON PROTECTIONS WE
CAN PUT IN PLACE TO HELP THOSE
ACROSS THE STATE LINES TO
SECURE ABORTION IN OUR CITY.
THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE COMING
UP IN MY COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
THE FIRST IS COUNCIL BILL 12734
THAT WOULD GUARANTEE CIVIL
RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE RECEIVED OR WHO ARE
SEEKING ABORTIONS.
WITH INCREASE IN EXPECTED
TRAVEL TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR THOSE SEEKING ABORTION
CARE, THERE WILL BE WRAPAROUND
SERVICES INCLUDING HOTEL AND
MEALS PROVIDED BY SERVICES.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ENSURE
PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION ARE
PROTECTED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
AND CANNOT BE DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT THESE PROTECTIONS WILL
APPLY REGARDLESS OF ONE'S
DOCUMENTATION STATUS AND IN
CONCURRENCE WITH OTHER CITY
REGULATIONS.
THE NEXT IS BILL 1273 SEX
CREATING A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE
FOR THOSE WHO ENCROACH ON
PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION CARE OR
GENDER CARE BY PHYSICALLY
BLOCKING ACCESS TO A FACILITY
WHERE THE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE PHYSICALLY
OBSTRUCTING ACCESS TO A
HEALTHCARE FACILITY WHERE
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.
I JUST SAID THAT, I'M SORRY.
OR IMPEDING PASSAGES FOR PEOPLE
SEEKING TO ENTER OR LEAVE A
FACILITY.
MAKING NOISE THAT DISRUPTS
PEOPLE IN THE FACILITY OR
THREATENING TO INFLICT INJURY
ON THE PEOPLE OR EMPLOYEES OF
THE CITY.
THIS LEGISLATION ADOPTS RCW 95
A 0020 AROUND FACILITIES IN THE
CRIMINAL CODE. IT WOULD ALLOW
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
PROSECUTE THE OFFENDER IN
MUNICIPAL COURT AND ALLOW THOSE
ACCESSING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE
. THESE BILLS ARE JUST THE
BEGINNING OF PROTECTIONS WE
HAVE WORKING IN THE CITY. I
WOULD SAY WE ARE ALSO WORKING
ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
REGULATE CRISIS PREGNANCY
CENTERS IN SEATTLE.
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS ARE
TYPICALLY CONSERVATIVE
CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS TO
PERSUADE PEOPLE AGAINST
ABORTIONS. THEY OFTEN OPERATE
AS ABORTION CLINICS THAT
PROVIDE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
OR REFERRAL TO SERVICES. THEY
DO NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION
ONCE A PERSON ENTERS OR INSTEAD
DIRECT THEM TO ADOPTION OR
OTHER OPTIONS. THEY CANNOT MAKE
PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT ARE
FALSE OR MISLEADING BY CREATING
PENALTIES FOR HAVING THIS KIND
OF INFORMATION. WE ARE MODELING
LEGISLATION FROM THE SAN
FRANCISCO ORDINANCE WHERE THEY
HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
UPHOLDING THIS ORDINANCE.
WE WILL PROTECT ABORTION
SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER WORK IN THIS
AS WELL AS THE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS LIFE-SAVING
WORK.
I WANT TO NAME MY APPRECIATION
FOR MAYOR HARRELL AND KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE
WHO HAVE PUT FORTH EFFORTS AT
THE COMMUNITY LEVEL TO PUSH
FORTH ABORTION FUNDS IN THE
NORTHWEST.
JUSTICE ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN
ANTICIPATING THE ROLLBACKS FOR
DECADES.
WHAT GIVES ME HELP IS THAT
KNOWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THERE ARE ROBUST SUPPORT
SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE
TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO ABORTION
ARE AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE FOR YEARS.
WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO
ORGANIZE AND ENSURE EVERYONE'S
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY
AND THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT TO
DO WITH THEIR OWN BODIES IS
PROTECTED.
I AM PROUD TO STAND FIRM
ALONGSIDE COLLEAGUES AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TODAY AND
DECLARES SEATTLE IS A CITY
WHERE WE STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS
AND WE CREATE SYSTEMS OF
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE SEEKING
ABORTION CARE. THE FIGHT FOR
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE WILL
CONTINUE AND I WILL CITED EVERY
LEVEL I CAN'T. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I'M GOING
TO PASS IT TO KYM CLARK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES . MY NAME
IS KIM CLARK AND I AM THE LEGAL
DIRECTOR AND I'VE BEEN WORKING
THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST 40 YEARS.
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES SAID,
MAKE NO MISTAKE THERE IS IN
UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK BY THE
HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND ON
THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF
PEOPLE WHO BECOME PREGNANT
WHICH WILL PROFOUNDLY IMPACT
OTHER AREAS OF THE LAW AS WELL.
THE COURT DID SO WITHOUT SO
MUCH AS ACKNOWLEDGING THE
IMPACTS THAT ITS DECISION WOULD
HAVE ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO
COULD BECOME PREGNANT,
ESPECIALLY THE MOST
MARGINALIZED.
IT SPEAKS VOLUMES.
THANKFULLY, ABORTION REMAINS
LEGAL IN WASHINGTON REGARDLESS
OF THIS DEEPLY FLAWED DECISION.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE DECISION
WILL NOT IMPACT WASHINGTON.
IN FACT, THERE IS AND ESTIMATE
THAT THERE WILL BE IN INCREASE
OF 385 PERCENT FOR PEOPLE WHO
RELY ON WASHINGTON PROVIDERS
FOR ABORTION CARE. WHILE
WASHINGTON WELCOMES ALL IN NEED
, WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT INFLUX
OF RESOURCES, THIS WILL
CONSTRAIN ACCESS, EVEN HERE. WE
KNOW THAT ANTIABORTION STATES
WILL NOT STOP AT BANNING
ABORTION WITHIN THEIR BORDERS
AND WILL TRY TO PUNISH OUT-OF-
STATE PROVIDERS FOR PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED
ASSISTANCE AND EVEN PUNISHING
PREGNANT PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
AT THE VERY LEAST, WE NEED
LEGAL PROTECTIONS TO ENSURE THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON WILL NOT
COOPERATE IN THE ATTACKS.
LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE LEVEL
ARE WORKING ON THAT.
IN THE MEANTIME THE ANTI-
ABORTION MOVEMENT IS EXPECTING
MORE ATTACKS ON THE PEOPLE WHO
BECOME PREGNANT AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES AS WELL. ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO STAND AT THE
INTERSECTION OF MULTIPLE FORMS
OF AGGRESSION. BY ACTOR SUCH AS
PRIVATE EMPLOYERS, HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, AND OTHER PLACES OF
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION. THAT IS
WHY THE ANTIDISCRIMINATION
MEASURES ARE SO IMPORTANT
SPOKEN OF BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES . THERE IS ACTIVITY
OUTSIDE OF HEALTH CLINICS
AROUND OUR STATE WHICH WE KNOW
WILL GET WORSE.
INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT OF
PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS HAS LONG
BEEN A STRATEGY OF THE
ANTIABORTION MOVEMENT,
ESPECIALLY IN STATES LIKE
WASHINGTON. IT IS ONE OF THE
ONLY STRATEGIES THAT WORKS FOR
THEM HERE. INCREASINGLY, THAT
STRATEGY HAVING INTIMIDATION
INCLUDES DIGITAL SURVEILLANCE.
WHILE THE RISKS TO PATIENT
PRIVACY ARE NUMEROUS, THERE IS
NONE MORE CONCERNING THAN THE
VAST NETWORK OF FAKE CLINICS
THE ANTIABORTION MOVEMENT HAS
BUILT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO
SURVEILLED PREGNANT PEOPLE AND
PREVENT THEM FROM ACCESSING
ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION. I'M
TALKING ABOUT CRISIS PREGNANCY
CENTERS WHICH ARE FAKE CLINICS
THAT OUT NUMBER REAL REAL
PRODUCTIVITY CLINICS IN THE 50
STATES, INCLUDING THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. THEY SPREAD
MISINFORMATION AND PREVENT
PREGNANT PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING
ABORTION CARE. THEY ALSO SERVE
ANOTHER PURPOSE THAT OTHER
PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF.
THAT IS TO COLLECT VAST AMOUNTS
OF PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
THAT CAN BE USED TO PROMOTE
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES
AGAINST PEOPLE AND THEIR
PROVIDERS.
THE MAJORITY OF CRISIS
PREGNANCY CENTERS NOT ONLY
SPREAD MISINFORMATION BUT THEY
PROVIDE NO CLINICAL SERVICES
WHATSOEVER. THEY MAY PROVIDE
DRUGSTORE PREGNANCY TESTS OR
DWRIGHT KEEPSAKE ULTRASOUND
TESTS. THE PEOPLE OPERATING THE
MACHINES DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY
TO READ THE RESULTS MUCH LESS
DIAGNOSE PREGNANCY
COMPLICATIONS.
MOST CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS
ARE NOT SUBJECT TO HIPAA OR
OTHER PRIVACY PROTECTIONS. IT
MEANS THEY CAN USE THE
INFORMATION THEY ARE COLLECTING
FROM UNSUSPECTING PATIENTS,
BASICALLY HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT.
THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY THAT
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO REGULATE
THE ACTIVITIES AT THE CRISIS
PREGNANCY CENTERS AND BE AWARE
OF WHAT THEY ARE. FORTUNATELY,
ADVOCATES AND PROVIDERS IN
WASHINGTON STAND READY TO MEET
THESE CHALLENGES. WITH THE
SUPPORT OF STRONG LEADERS AT
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
THE SUPREME COURT IN DOBBS
VERSUS JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH
ORGANIZATION IS ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF HISTORY.
MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT WE HERE IN
WASHINGTON AND IN SEATTLE, IN
PARTICULAR, WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGHT UNTIL ALL PEOPLE TRULY
ENJOY TRUE REPRODUCTIVE
JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KAY MARINO AND I AM
THE OBJECTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION
IN WASHINGTON STATE TO PROTECT
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR EVERY
PERSON FOR 50 YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND MORALE US WHO ARE
STANDING UP FOR THE PROTECTION
OF THESE CRITICAL RIGHTS. I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD
WORK OF FELLOW COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE FOR DECADES
BEEN WORKING TO PREPARE FOR
THIS MOMENT FOR DECADES. WHICH
IS WHY WE ARE IN SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON ABLE TO MEET THIS
WITH LEGISLATION AND ACTIVISM.
THIS LEGISLATION ALONG WITH
INVESTMENTS IN ABORTION FUNDS
LIKE THE NORTHWEST ABORTION
ACCESS FUND AND REPRODUCTION
CLINICS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
MEETING THIS MOMENT. YOU HAVE
HEARD MY COLLEAGUES SPEAKING
ABOUT THE UNPRECEDENTED PATIENT
NEEDS ACROSS WASHINGTON AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE IN
SEATTLE, AND ACROSS THE STATE
WILL NEED TO MEET. WE NEED TO
MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS TO
PREPARE. WE ALSO KNOW THIS
MOMENT WILL NOT STAY THE SAME
FOR WASHINGTON. WE HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO AS ACTIVISTS AND
AS INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE TO
PROTECT OUR RIGHTS HERE. WE ALL
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
CONTINUE TO WORK BOTH QUALITY
CARE AND TO COUNTER THE STIGMA
THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO GET HERE
. ALL OF US HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK MORE
CLEARLY ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS
AS FUNDAMENTAL HELP HEALTHCARE
RIGHTS AND AS FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN
RIGHTS AND AS FUNDAMENTAL CIVIL
RIGHTS.
AND AS A RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL
PEOPLE.
ABORTION RIGHTS ARE NOT EQUALLY
PROTECTED FOR EVERY SINGLE
PERSON. THAT INCLUDES
DISCRIMINATORY RESTRICTIONS
WITHIN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
SO, ALONG WITH THESE
INVESTMENTS AND IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION, WE NEED TO WORK TO
COUNTER OTHER DISCRIMINATORY
BIASES WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM INCLUDING THE
RESTRICTION OF CARE ACROSS
HOSPITALS IN WASHINGTON STATE.
OVER THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE
BED SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATORY L
POLICIES WITHIN THE HOSPITALS.
THIS RESULTS IN DENIAL OF
REPRODUCTIVE CARE AND GENDER
CARE AND OTHER HEALTHCARE
WITHIN WASHINGTON. CONSIDERING
THE INFLUX OF PATIENTS THAT
WILL BE ARISING, WE NEED TO
STILL ADDRESS THOSE HEALTH
SYSTEMS AND WE NEED TO HOLD OUR
OWN SYSTEMS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
RATES THEY ARE DENYING. AS YOU
HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES,
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS ARE
ESSENTIAL TO ADDRESS. THEY ARE
DENYING QUALITY CARE AND
PUTTING PEOPLE AT MEDICAL RISK
BY EITHER PROVIDING
MISINFORMATION OR REFUSING TO
PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
THEY ALSO PUT PATIENTS AT
SIGNIFICANT RISK THROUGH THE
DATA PRIVACY ISSUES THAT KYM
CLARK ARTICULATED FOR US. THIS
IS A MOMENT WE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS IS A FIRST IMPORTANT STEP.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE IN A
PLACE THAT HAS ROOM FOR STEPS.
THIS WORK WE NEED TO DO AS
INDIVIDUALS TO COUNTER THE
STIGMA AND TO CONTINUE TO
COUNTER MEDICAL DISCRIMINATION,
AND TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR
FUNDING FOR OUR ABORTION
CLINICS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TIKI30S MORALES AND
HERBOLD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
PROTECTING ABORTION ACCESS IN
SEATTLE . WE ARE GRATEFUL TO
HAVE YOU AS ALLIES AND
CHAMPIONS ON THIS CRITICAL CARE
. I AM THE WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER OF
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ALLIANCE
ADVOCATES. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A
MONTH SINCE THE SUPREME COURT
OVERTURNED NEARLY 50 YEARS OF
PRECEDENT AND ELIMINATED THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF ABORTION.
IN THAT TIME, MY COLLEAGUES AT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND ABORTION
PROVIDERS AROUND THE COUNTRY
HAVE SEEN PATIENTS WHO ARE
SCARED, UNSURE OF WHERE TO
TURN, AND STRIPPED OF THE RIGHT
OF THIS FUNDAMENTAL BASIC
HEALTHCARE.
IF WASHINGTON STATE, THANKS TO
DECADES OF RELENTLESS WORK TO
EXPAND AND DEFEND OUR RIGHTS BY
LEADERS IN SEATTLE, AND ACROSS
THE STATE, ABORTION IS STILL
LEGAL. PROVIDERS IN WASHINGTON
ARE AND WILL REMAIN OPEN TO ALL
PATIENTS. WE ARE NOT JUST HERE
FOR WASHINGTON PATIENTS, WE ARE
HERE FOR EVERYONE, NO MATTER
WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN AND NO
MATTER WHO YOUR LAWMAKERS AND
GOVERNOR ARE. IN WASHINGTON, WE
OPEN OUR ARMS.
WE HAVE SEEN STATES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WHOSE OWN LAWMAKERS
HAVE ABANDONED THEM AND LEFT
THEM WITHOUT ACCESS TO BASIC
HEALTHCARE.
IT IS BECAUSE OF STRONG SUPPORT
AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF
LEADERS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND HERBOLD . WE EXPECT
THAT KYM CLARK STATED EARLIER,
AND INFLUX OF PATIENTS IN THE
COMING MONTHS AND YEARS.
STUDIES ESTIMATE AT 385% GROWTH
IN OUT-OF-STATE PATIENTS
TRAVELING TO WASHINGTON TO
ACCESS ABORTION CARE. THAT IS
WHY POLICIES ANNOUNCED TODAY
ARE SO CRITICAL TO SAFEGUARDING
AND MAINTAINING ABORTION ACCESS
IN SEATTLE. WE WANT PROVIDERS
AND PATIENTS TO BE SAFE,
PROTECTED, AND EMPOWERED TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ABORTION
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THE
ENTIRE STATE, NO MATTER WHAT.
LET'S BE CLEAR, WE KNOW NOT ALL
PATIENTS WHO WANT TO TRAVEL TO
WASHINGTON TO ACCESS ABORTION
WILL BE ABLE TO GET HERE FOR
CARE.
THE STATE ABORTION BAN SWEEPING
THE COUNTRY ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY FIELDING
BLACK, LATINO, INDIGENOUS, AND
OHER PEOPLE OF COLOR. LGBTQ
PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
, AND IMMIGRANTS, AND MORE. DUE
TO THE COUNTRY'S LEGACY OF
RACISM AND SYSTEMIC
DISCRIMINATION. WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE LEADERS HERE TODAY AND
ACROSS THE STATE FOR STANDING
STRONG TO ENSURE PATIENTS CAN
RELY ON WASHINGTON STATE FOR
HEALTHCARE. THANK YOU AGAIN TO
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
MORALES FOR PROTECTING
PATIENTS AND THE REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO PARTNERSHIP AND I
WILL NOW HAND IT TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD .
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, I AM LISA HERBOLD
REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1 WITH
SEATTLE. I SERVE ON THE BOARD
OF HEALTH AND OVERSEE ISSUES
WITH MY COMMITTEE. IN SEATTLE,
WE ARE USED TO THINKING OF
EARTHQUAKES. THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION IS THE BIG ONE OF
CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKES THAT
WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN WAS
COMING.
THE FOURFOLD INCREASE OF PEOPLE
SEEKING ABORTIONS HERE IS A
TIDAL WAVE CREATED BY THE
EARTHQUAKE. IT IS HEADED OUR WAY
. PROVIDERS ARE REPORTING
PATIENTS SEEKING CARE FROM AS
FAR AWAY AS TEXAS AND LOUISIANA
. WE MUST GET READY AND DO SO
QUICKLY. PREGNANT PEOPLE DO NOT
HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME TO MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT ABORTION.
I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, HER
TEAM, AND HER STAFF TO WORK ON
THE FIXES TO HELP PREGNANT
PEOPLE. A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT
ABORTION ACCESS AND I OFFERED
AND AMENDMENT AT THE ADVOCATION
OF ADVOCATES FOR LOGISTICAL
SUPPORT, CARE, AND SAFETY FOR
PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION HERE.
WASHINGTON COULD SEE A 385%
INCREASE IN PATIENTS FROM OUT
OF STATE SEEKING REPRODUCTIVE
CARE HERE.
ENOUGH TO FLOOD CLINICS ACROSS
THE STATE, INCLUDING HERE IN
SEATTLE. IN WASHINGTON, WE KNOW
THAT ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE,
FULL STOP. 62% OF WASHINGTON
RESIDENTS WANT TO HELP PEOPLE
FROM OTHER STATES RECEIVE
ABORTIONS HERE. THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT THESE FUNDS WILL DO. I
THANK MAYOR HARRELL FOR
ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE
COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION FOR
$250,000 WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL
VOTE TO APPROVE NEXT WEEK. I AM
ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOSPITAL
CONSOLIDATION, AS WE HEARD TODAY
. THE ACLU ESTIMATES 50% OF
HOSPITAL BEDS IN OUR STATE ARE
NOW IN RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED
HOSPITALS. THE PATIENTS AND
THOSE HOSPITALS CANNOT ACCESS
THE FULL RANGE OF HEALTHCARE
THAT THEY MAY REQUIRE.
NO ONE IS REQUIRED TO TELL THEM
THEY ARE BEING DENIED
HEALTHCARE OPTIONS. OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE MUST PASS, THIS
SESSION, THE KEEP OUR CARE ACT
TO PREVENT FURTHER HEALTHCARE
CONSOLIDATION IF IT NEGATIVELY
IMPACTS A COMMUNITY'S ACCESS TO
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE.
INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE CARE AND
LIFE CARE AND GENDER CARE.
BECAUSE WE AND EXPECTING INFLUX
OF PREGNANT PEOPLE COMING.
LIKELY UNFAMILIAR WITH OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, AND WORKING
WITH ADVOCATES AND THE BOARD OF
HEALTH TO PROVIDE ACCESSILE AND
ACCURATE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION
SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE THEY
CAN AND CANNOT RECEIVE AT THE
PROVIDER THEY HAVE CHOSEN.
WE ALSO KNOW DATA PRIVACY IS OF
LEADING EDGE IN THIS FIGHT. IN
STATES WITH PUNITIVE TACCONE
AND LAWS THAT SEEK TO ENFORCE
THEIR LAWS ACROSS STATE BORDERS
AND INTO OUR STATE.
LET'S ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC
DANGERS THAT PEOPLE SEEKING
ABORTION HERE WILL FACE WHEN IT
COMES TO DATA PRIVACY.
WITH TRACKERS IN GOOGLE
SEARCHES AND LOCATION TRACKING,
THESE MUST NOT BE USED AGAINST
PREGNANT PEOPLE SEEKING CARE
FROM OUT OF STATE.
OR, EVEN THOSE WHO HELP THOSE
PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE
CRISIS. THANKS TO OUR
EXTRAORDINARY NETWORK OF
ADVOCATES AND PROVIDERS, WE CAN
MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES ABOUT ITS
IMPACT AND MOVE TO MEET THE
CHALLENGE.
THE FULL IMPACT IS SIMPLY NOT
KNOWN. WE DO NOT KNOW
EVERYTHING THAT WILL BE NEEDED
TO KEEP MEDICAL REFUGEES, THEIR
PROVIDERS, AND THOSE WHO
SUPPORT THEM SAFE.
DON'T FORGET THESE FOLKS ARE
MEDICAL REFUGEES COMING TO OUR
STATE FOR CARE.
PRECISELY BECAUSE ABORTION
REMAINS SAFE AND LEGAL IN
WASHINGTON STATE, SEATTLE MUST
WELCOME ALL PEOPLE WHO NEED
ABORTION ACCESS SERVICES, NO
MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE. OUR
COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO
ABORTION ACCESS.
LET'S PLEDGE TOGETHER TO
CONTINUE THIS WORK SO THAT
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL.
THANK YOU.
I WILL HAND IT BACK OVER TO
TAMMY MORALES .
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR
BEING HERE. IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF US, WE ARE
HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE. YES?
>> Reporter: [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ].
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT 385%
THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING
ABOUT, THE EXPECTATION IS MOST
WILL BE FROM IDAHO AND MONTANA.
IT IS URGENT FOR US TO BE
PREPARED FOR THE INFLUX OF
PEOPLE WE ARE EXPECTING.
>> Reporter: [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ].
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT
HERE IN SEATTLE.
ACROSS THE STATE, CERTAINLY. WE
HAVE MENTIONED 40% OR 50% OF
THE BEDS ARE IN CATHOLIC
HOSPITALS THAT REFUSE TO
PROVIDE THIS CARE.
IT WILL BE A CRISIS FOR US AND
SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND
READY IN OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
WE EXPECT THERE TO BE A STRAIN
WHICH IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE ABORTION ACCESS FUND. WE
NEED TO GET PROVIDERS READY AND
SET UP THE SYSTEM SO WE ARE
PREPARED. NOT JUST FOR THE
FOLKS HERE IN WASHINGTON AND
SEATTLE ALREADY, BUT TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE WHO WE KNOW WILL BE
COMING.
>> Reporter: [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ].
>> I THINK THEY ARE REVIEWING
THEM.
I DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE CERTAINLY
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
YES.
>> Reporter: [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ].
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY, I
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.