While we knew this was coming after the decision was leaked in early May, the Denver Democrats are sickened that Roe has been officially struck down by the Supreme Court. One of the most important constitutional rights for women - the right to reproductive autonomy and access to abortion care – is now illegal in at least 13 states, with many other states positioned to follow suit. This is the first time in history that the Supreme Court has removed a constitutional right. It is a terrifying and inhumane culmination of a minority, right-wing contingent’s religious zealotry and desire to subjugate women.
The majority of the U.S. population recognizes and abhors this clear escalation of authoritarian ideals - it’s government-mandated pregnancy, clear and simple. It also opens the door to overturning key decisions around LGBTQ+ rights. In fact, Clarence Thomas noted in his opinion that SCOTUS should reconsider Griswold, Lawrence and Obergefell - the rulings that protect contraception, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. The overwhelming majority of Americans support these rights, and we must do everything we can to prevent this reversal of progress. We’re fortunate to live in Colorado, which recently codified a person’s fundamental right to make reproductive healthcare decisions free from government interference via the passage of the Reproductive Health Equity Act. It’s a clear example of how much elections matter.
What You Can Do
Vote
The most important thing we can do now is make our voices heard through voting in EVERY election, no matter how small. In fact, if you haven’t already, make sure you fill out your primary ballot and turn it in by June 28. Even if you don’t have any contested races, it’s an important way to ensure you’re in the system and it’s a good dry run for the critical November midterms.
Support Our Advocacy Efforts
We work tirelessly to educate our communities to get out the vote, and operate solely on donations and fundraisers. If you’d like to support our efforts to elect Democrats to represent Denver, you can donate here.
We’ve seen how just a few votes can change the outcome of an election. With human rights and our democracy on the line, it’s imperative that everyone does all they can to elect Democrats this year. No one can sit this out.