Title
Support for Abortion Rights and United States Supreme Court Decision in the case of Roe v Wade - For the purpose of expressing Council support for the Supreme Court Decision in the case of Roe v. Wade.
Support for Abortion Rights and Opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization - For the purpose of expressing Annapolis City Council support for abortion rights and a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a women's right to an abortion in Maryland.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 33-22
Introduced by: Alderman Da Juan Gay
Co-sponsored by:
A RESOLUTION concerning
Support for the United States Supreme Court Decision in the Case of Roe v. Wade
Opposition to the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
FOR the purpose of expressing support for the Supreme Court Decision in the case of Roe v. Wade and generally expressing support for women’s right to an abortion in the United States.
FOR the purpose of expressing Annapolis City Council opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, support for abortion rights and a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a women's right to an abortion in Maryland
WHEREAS, May 2, 2022, a leaked initial draft majority draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito indicated that the United States Supreme Court is prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) (overruled certain portions of Roe) in a final decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
WHEREAS, thousands of Annapolitans expressed outrage in fear of the Supreme Court's final decision
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, re-emphasized the right to an abortion, upholding the "essential holding" in Roe" that Constitutional protection of the woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy derives from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which declares that no State shall "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law - liberty being the controlling word; and
WHEREAS, in 1992 61% of Marylanders voted to support SB 162 which made clear the State may not interfere with the decision of a woman to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability. Protecting a women's right to abortion in the State of Maryland; and
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court in the Roe v. Wade decision ruled that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution, enshrines a right to privacy that ultimately protects a pregnant woman's liberty to choose to have an abortion; and
WHEREAS, in a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 64% of Marylanders 18 years of age and older agreed that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, and
WHEREAS, the number of abortion clinics and access to prenatal care has diminished in the state in recent years, going from 52 in 1982 to 51 in 1992, and now in 2022 less than 20; and
WHEREAS, the late Speaker of the House the Honorable Michael E. Busch stated in 2019, “Given the current national climate, the change in the makeup of the Supreme Court and the alarming increase in anti-choice legislation introduced in Maryland, it is important to protect this right in Maryland’s constitution.”
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis expresses its support for a woman’s right to an abortion in the United States and for a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding its decision in Roe v. Wade.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis expresses its support for a woman's right to an abortion in the united states,
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS CREATE A PARTNERSHIP IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 WITH THE ANNAPOLIS PLANNED PARENTHOOD BRANCH,
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that a copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the District 30 State Delegation expressing support for continued funding of women’s health facilities in the State of Maryland and an update on the constitutional amendment to protect a women’s right to choose.
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that a copy of this resolution shall be sent to Maryland's congressional delegation and to the District 30 state delegation expressing support for continued funding of women’s health facilities in the state of Maryland and calling for a state constitutional amendment to protect a women’s right to choose.
EXPLANATION
Underlining indicates matter added.
[Strikethrough] indicates matter stricken.