Yesterday, Rob was honored to give the opening remarks at Black Women for Wellness’ 25th Annual Reproductive Justice Conference.
Founded in 1997, Black Women for Wellness is a California-based nonprofit organization committed to the health and well-being of Black women and girls. Their work to take on health disparities and fight for reproductive rights is truly a matter of life or death.
Fighting for reproductive justice is one of Rob’s top priorities. As he told the crowd, “As your Attorney General, I’m listening. I stand with you. I’m here to fight alongside you.”
And that includes solving the Black maternal mortality crisis. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, and Black women bear the disproportionate brunt of this: Black patients are 3-4 times more likely to die during childbirth than white patients. In California specifically, Black women make up 5% of pregnant patients but account for 21% of the total pregnancy-related deaths, regardless of income level. This is a tragic failure of our healthcare system, and it must be addressed.
We know one of the root causes of this deadly problem is implicit bias in our healthcare system. That’s why Rob has partnered with the California Legislative Black Caucus, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Black Women for Wellness to sponsor AB 2319, a bill that aims to reduce the maternal mortality rate of Black women and other pregnant persons of color by ensuring the successful implementation of the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act of 2019 and strengthening implicit bias training across the state.
The AG is also leading the fight for everyone to access birth control, abortion, and other reproductive healthcare services across the state of California: he’s sued a national anti-abortion group and a chain of five crisis pregnancy centers, fought to protect medication abortion, safeguarded the privacy of patients and providers, and more.
For every door MAGA Republicans try to shut, Rob is here holding the door open to options, opportunity, and safety. For every lie they spin, he’s here with facts and data. Because abortion is healthcare. And healthcare is a human right.
Like Rob says: when we fight as one, we win as one.
Thank you,
Rob Bonta for California
