Westport passes resolution upholding Roe v. Wade abortion rights
WESTPORT — The Representative Town Meeting overwhelmingly passed a resolution that upholds the rights and principles in Roe v. Wade and opposes the elimination of them from any Supreme Court decision.
The sense-of-the-meeting resolution passed 29-0 with several members absent for a variety of reasons, including business engagements or health. Dick Lownstein, a District 5 member, said he was leaving the meeting prior to the vote though because the opinions of the members differed on what aspects of abortion they actually supported, much like Connecticut residents’ feelings on it.
Everyone else who spoke on the resolution, which had 23 co-sponsors — more than half of the 36-member body, said the resolution was needed.
“I have two teenaged girls at home and a looming Supreme Court decision that’s basically transforming the landscape of the health care available to them,” said Candace Banks, a District 6 member and one of the lead sponsors.
The resolution comes on the heels of a leaked draft opinion that would overturn Roe.
Liz Milwe, another lead sponsor and a District 1 member, said they had 21 co-sponsors on the resolution within 24 hours of the news breaking about the draft decision.
Sense-of-the-meeting resolutions don’t tend to binding, but are largely symbolic, showing where the political body stands.
Some members said they’re still important and can bring about change.
“Passing this resolution will not only reflect our values, but back up and perhaps move the officials who are perhaps in more of a position to take more specific actions,” said Wendy Batteau, a District 8 member.
Karen Kramer, a District 5 member and another lead sponsor, said speaking about the issue openly could also inspire someone to help at least one woman.
“Please, let’s try and make a difference,” she said.
Several speakers said those most affected by Roe v. Wade potentially being overturned are those already facing challenges, but that people in Westport aren’t immune. They said that something like this affects so many everywhere nd so it’s become a local issue for that reason.
Banks held up a map of the country with different states colored in various ways depending on the restrictions there and used her daughters as examples of how Westport women might be affected, including college choices, potential jobs or travel opportunities within those jobs that would bring them to those states for long periods.
“I look at this map and see a lot of lost potential,” she said. “I see a lot of roads not taken. I don’t think my daughters or your
children should have to consult this kind of map before going to their dream school or taking their dream job or a dream assignment.”
She added that the map also represents fewer opportunities for women and a smaller world for them to operate in.
“It doesn’t represent progress, it doesn’t represent freedom and I think resisting it here in Connecticut is worthwhile,” Banks said.
Several members pointed to the RTM’s history of nonpartisan resolutions that upheld various rights. Nancy Kail, a District 9 member also spoke to Westport’s character overall and the number of women who hold leadership positions in town, including and all female Board of Selectwomen, chairs for a number of boards and 50 percent membership on the RTM.
Other members spoke about how abortion is
women’s healthcare and should be treated with the same dignity, privacy and autonomy as other healthcare decisions between the patient and their doctor and not based on what the government or politicians decide.
Some also said it was more than a women’s health issue and men needed to back it too.
“It’s not a women’s issue, it’s a people’s issue,” said Matthew Mandell, a District 1 member.