To: The honorable members of the Oakland City Council,

We the undersigned call on you to pass Council President Pro Tem Sheng Thao’s resolution at the May 17th Council meeting declaring the City of Oakland a sanctuary for reproductive freedom. 

The resolution will:

• Declare Oakland a right-to-choose sanctuary city, recognizing that abortion should be available to all who seek care
• Call on the State and County to ensure adequate funding for reproductive healthcare including abortion
• Reaffirm support of codifying the right to an abortion into federal law via House Bill 3755, The Women’s Protection Act of 2021 (Lee & Chu)

Even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, the demand for abortion access won’t change. It must be our responsibility to protect the health and privacy of those who live and work here in Oakland and to offer safe harbor for reproductive healthcare needs for pregnant persons seeking care that has been made illegal in their home states. 

Together, we must all defend access to abortion and necessary healthcare services for all who are in need, especially the most vulnerable among us. 

(See Council President Pro Tem Sheng Thao's full resolution here: https://oakland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5640402&GUID=F19B057A-076B-4BE6-A0FC-77E04873430B)