Westchester Insider: Choice Matters: Anti-Abortion Terrorists Attack Westchester Clinic.

 

Saturday, as most of us were busy wrapping up Thanksgiving, a local abortion clinic in White Plains was attacked. Yes, you read that right. Not Texas. Not Mississippi. Right here in Westchester County, NY. For 4 hours, aggressors were allowed to terrorize patients and staff. The police were caught by surprise. They lacked training on how to protect the clinic and the patients it serves. Women felt trapped and victimized as the police stood by allowing the vigilante terrorists free rein to approach patients in the waiting room, invading their right to privacy and to abortion care. When it was finally over, the trespassing terrorists were not arrested—only issued desk appearance tickets. This is the worst clinic attack in the state of New York in decades, and a full-fledged violation of the federal FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) and state Clinic Access Act.  Choice Matters is out in front on this, making sure the Westchester County District Attorney and County Government are involved, and that the necessary security and legal issues are addressed. But why is this happening now? For the same reason the US Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization today, and why they refuse to stay the extreme Texas SB8 anti-abortion law while it makes its way through the courts. BECAUSE six anti-choice Supreme Court justices—3 of whom were appointed by Trump—now hold the future of women’s healthcare, right to privacy and autonomy in their depraved hands. These zealots have already demonstrated they have no respect for precedent; and avowed critic of Roe, Justice Thomas, has long awaited this moment. The decisions made by THIS Supreme Court will directly affect all of us right here in New York State—And this court has empowered the terrorists who invaded the White Plains clinic on Saturday. It is the terrorists' belief that they are on the cusp of success.

What should we do to move forward?  DEMAND, and accept nothing less. We must DEMAND our elected officials make New York a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary. New York State MUST – at a bare minimum – provide: Age-Appropriate Sexuality Education (My Body My Health) pre-K through 12th grade. Right now we have high school students going into college without even a basic understanding of the so-called birds & bees. New York stands with Oklahoma – the only required teaching being limited to what HIV is. Medication Abortion & birth control including emergency contraception on ALL SUNY campuses (just like California does!); 12-month supplies/prescription of Contraception provided at one time through the pharmacist; An Abortion Access Fund funded by the State for those who cannot afford  coverage and/or cannot disclose the abortion – in other words, working women; Insurance coverage for reproductive needs which does not disclose the purpose of the coverage for those covered by a parent or spouse. Disclosure & licensing requirements for fake pregnancy centers (“Crisis Pregnancy Centers”). New York is no longer the leader it once was in advancing reproductive healthcare. It has slipped behind in its advocacy for women’s healthcare. That is unacceptable.

Choice Matters is laser focused on electing pro-choice champions in our communities — locally, statewide and nationally. They are key to advancing our reproductive freedoms and making New York a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary.   As we move forward, into 2022 and beyond, please know that we are in this to win. We will stand with those who stand with us today and moving forward. https://choicematters.org/donate-now/