Cinco de Mayo began as a civil rights commemoration, with Latinos supporting freedom over slavery and equality over white supremacy.

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“Had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla (May 5, 1862), France would have gone to the aid of the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War and the United States’ destiny would have been different.”

- Justo Sierra

Author, “The Political Evolution of the Mexican People”


** Repeal Relief
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Governor Hobbs signing HB2677 to repeal the 1864 Abortion Ban

On Thursday, there was a moment of emotional celebration as Governor Hobbs signed the repeal of the territorial abortion ban. Against the odds, and rules created against us, Democratic leadership in the House and Senate prevailed in bringing this legislation, which has been ignored by Republicans for the past six years, to the governor's desk. With upward of 80% of bills introduced by Democrats never getting the chance to be heard, the feeling was especially sweet for Representative Stahl Hamilton as this was her first bill signed into law.

Although this repeal brings relief, we must acknowledge that providers and patients are still subject to the near total abortion ban until the bill becomes law 90 days after the session ends. When will the session end? Good question for a crystal ball. Speaker Toma has adjourned the House until May 15, and there are rumors that the Republican majority would like to keep us in session through the fall so the ban remains in place for as long as possible. This means dread will continue to loom over pregnancies and providers will not be able to provide full patient care.

Take for example, the 19-year-old who came to the hospital this week with pregnancy complications that included significant bleeding. She was in disbelief as the physician team told her there was nothing they could do for her until she came back with a spiked fever or symptoms of sepsis. Or the provider that closed their practice to move out of state because the whiplash of varying abortion bans created too much uncertainty. There will be many more of these examples – real lives, real women, real families, real businesses, all suffering under the control of an extremist minority.

I don’t use the word extremism lightly when it comes to the discussion surrounding abortion. What I heard on the Senate floor during the repeal debate showed a very clear lack of understanding of what abortion care is, and how religious and extremist ideology is obscuring medical science. (Listen here ([link removed]) starting at the 1-hour 37-minute mark, and brace yourself). I left the Chamber after hearing enough and went out to knock on doors and talk to real voters about this situation. I was glad to see in the very first home I visited that a local news station was streaming the Senate debate so that Arizonans could hear how the “best abortion ban in the country” was being exulted by far-right elected officials.

As a mom of two young children, I look back to my understanding of pregnancy and abortion. The first thing I quickly realized when my husband and I decided to try to have a child is that there is no guarantee over any part of the pregnancy journey. The creation of life is indeed a scientific miracle, and you have no certainty about that journey. Will you become pregnant in one month? Three months? Ever? Will you have a complication-free pregnancy? Or might you experience a miscarriage, as 1 in 4 pregnancies do. A pregnant person has no control over how hard or easy any part of a pregnancy will be and no government should attempt to exert that control either.

Please sign or support the Arizona for Abortion Access Initiative so that we can ensure healthcare during pregnancy can be protected in our Constitution.

With a recess this week I will next be sharing insights on the budget and the updated financial forecast of our state.

With kindness,

Sarah
Arizona For Abortion Access ([link removed])


** First LGBTQ+ Youth Day at the Capitol
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Youth leaders at the press conference and at a roundtable discussion they led.

Representative Lorena Austin (LD 9) empowered some amazing youth around our State this week with her help organizing the first ever LGBTQ+ Youth Day at the Capitol.

Youth advocates spoke about their experience as children facing challenges and consequences from the discriminatory legislation pushed by the Republican majority. An amazing teen leader described that this fight was not one they choose, describing how they would rather be at school than at press conferences, worried more about finals, grades, and friendships than what they might be attacked by - both physically and legally by discriminatory policies.

I met some brave souls who are exemplifying the leadership we should be employing. Let kids live; help kids thrive. Get politics out of their lives and their classrooms and face together the fact that we can break this cycle of discriminations based on fear and insecurity. We can do better and our children deserve that we be better, for the sake of their safety today and entire generations to come.

Thank you to the organizations supporting our youth ~ AZTypo, One-N-Ten, Human Rights Campaign and GLSEN.
Learn About GLSEN, formed by teachers in 1990 ([link removed])


** Community Corner
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The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held its 70th Annual Black and White Ball Business Awards and it was a celebration of the major accomplishments of the Hispanic community in our state. Phoenix Union School Board member Stephanie Parra and Suns star Devin Booker were named the Woman and Man of the Year along with one of my favorite local chefs, Ivan Jacobo, for his downtown Phoenix restaurant Anhelo.
* Hispanics make up one third of Arizona’s population and almost half of K-12 school students.
* Hispanic buying power surpassed $57 billion in 2022.
* Voting potential is immense, with 40% of Hispanic eligible voters not yet registered to vote.

Thank you to the University of Arizona for hosting Representatives Mariana Sandoval, Charles Lucking, and me.
Read the State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market 2023 ([link removed])


** Canvass Connections
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We are out in the community having great conversations with neighbors.

Thanks to the volunteers and candidates who have joined us!

The conversations are an impactful way to help get out the word on our campaign and those of our county candidates for Supervisor and Superintendent. We are carrying the abortion initiative petition and filling those up quick with eager signers!

If you would like to knock on your neighbors doors on your own time we can get a canvassing packet over to you! Just sign up below:
Sign Up To Volunteer ([link removed])
Donate Here! ([link removed])

Paid for by Sarah Liguori for State. Approved by Sarah Liguori.
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