Letter from Sacramento: A Dark Time for Reproductive Rights

This month, I fully intended to write about Sierra Club California’s frustrations with the governor’s energy budget package. But recent events compel me to leave that for another day.

On Friday June 24, the U.S. The Supreme Court issued their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, in which the court formally overruled Roe v. Wade and reversed nearly 50 years of precedent and end federal constitutional protections for abortion. You can find Sierra Club’s official statement on the decision here.

This long-awaited decision comes just one day after more than 200 people, including Sierra Club staff and volunteers (I was there!), rallied outside the California Environmental Protection Agency to pressure the state to plan for a healthy, breathable future for California communities. A future in which ALL Californians can thrive, and make the choices necessary to do so.

But unfortunately with this Supreme Court decision, many people across the country will have their futures decided for them because their constitutional rights have been struck down.

Some of you may be wondering “why does the Sierra Club care about reproductive rights?” To answer that question, I direct you to this blog post by Sierra Club’s Managing Director, Eva Hernandez-Simmons (seriously, read it). As Eva correctly points out, environmental justice is a key part of reproductive justice.

In California, we’re fortunate enough to live in a state that defends reproductive rights. Since the draft decision was released in early May, the Governor and legislature have committed to ramping up legal protection for abortion providers and increasing resources that expand access to clinics and services. Legislative leaders are also working to enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution.

Despite knowing those protections are in place here in the Golden State, my heart aches for the millions who can't and won’t be able to exercise their bodily autonomy. Twenty-six states across the country either have so-called ‘trigger laws’ that automatically ban abortion upon the decision, or will move quickly to ban abortion.

We can’t take the fact that we live in California for granted. We must stay vigilant and exercise our solidarity as we work to ensure that everyone has the power and freedom to make their own personal decisions. How? By working together to defend reproductive justice as we do environmental justice. By rising to the opportunity we have as Californians to model what progressive values look like and work in solidarity with other states. And by building power in our local communities to secure a future where everyone has the power and freedom to make the choices that are right for them.

Personally, while I may have been born and identify as male, my own identity will never compromise my commitment to fighting for the day where reproductive justice will be restored to all.

While Sierra Club may not be a reproductive rights organization, we will follow the lead of those who are. So if you haven’t already and are comfortable doing so, I urge you to mobilize and make your voice heard. You can find a link to a map of events here.

In Solidarity,