Reproductive Equity Now Urges Easthampton City Council to Override Mayor’s Veto of Reproductive Health Ordinance
Mayor LaChapelle vetoed an ordinance last week to increase public education on anti-abortion centers, codify state’s shield protections at the municipal level
BOSTON (July 11, 2023) – Following Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle’s veto of a reproductive health ordinance last week, Reproductive Equity Now is urging the Easthampton City Council to override the Mayor’s decision and pass the ordinance that would increase public education about the dangers of anti-abortion centers and codify the state’s shield protections at the municipal level.
The Council can act to override the Mayor's veto between 10 to 30 days after the veto measure returned the ordinance to the Council. The City Council originally passed Ordinance 6-23 with a 6-1 vote on July 5, and the measure was vetoed on July 6. Reproductive Equity Now testified in support of Ordinance 6-23 at the City Council meeting on July 5.
“We are disappointed by Mayor LaChapelle’s decision to veto an ordinance to increase public education about anti-abortion centers. Now, we strongly urge the Easthampton City Council to act boldly once again and override the Mayor’s veto,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “Anti-abortion centers are the foot soldiers of the anti-abortion movement and pose a serious threat to people seeking legitimate reproductive health care in our state. These facilities are being emboldened in a post-Roe America, and Massachusetts has an obligation to double down on its efforts to educate and protect the public from deceptive facilities that promote medical disformation.
“Cities and towns have a critical role to play, and we are grateful that the Easthampton City Council overwhelmingly approved this ordinance that offers the public important educational tools to understand their rights when seeking abortion care. By directing residents to report anti-abortion centers’ deceptive practices to the Attorney Generals’ consumer complaint tool, we can work across all levels of government and allow our top law enforcement officer to look at patterns across the state, gather evidence to protect patients, and determine if anti-abortion centers are violating the law. These educational materials are no different than what the Easthampton Health Department has posted regarding COVID-19 resources or housing services available from state agencies. As we face this unprecedented public health, economic, and racial justice crisis, we must take bold action at every level of government to ensure every Bay Stater in every community has the resources, support, and legitimate information to access the health care they want and need.”
The fair access provisions of Ordinance 6-23 seek to increase public education about anti-abortion centers, or “crisis pregnancy centers,” by instructing Easthampton’s Health Department to make information available to residents from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office regarding: 1) available sexual and reproductive health care services, 2) how to navigate legitimate medical care in the Commonwealth, and 3) how to file a consumer complaint in the event of a negative experience seeking reproductive health care.
The safe access provisions of Ordinance 6-23 codify shield protections secured in Chapter 127 of the Acts of 2022 at the municipal level, prohibiting Easthampton city officials, employees, and any recipient of city funds from cooperating with attempts to gather information about, investigate, prosecute, or otherwise interfere with providers or patients seeking lawful reproductive or gender-affirming care in Massachusetts.
Anti-abortion centers present themselves as resources for people facing unintended pregnancy, but actually aim to manipulate and dissuade people from accessing abortion care through medical disinformation, deceptive advertising practices, and perpetuating abortion stigma. Studies show that anti-abortion centers deceive people and do not offer legitimate medical care. A lawsuit recently filed against a Worcester anti-abortion center, Clearway Clinic, alleges the facility failed to adhere to standards of medical care and misdiagnosed an ectopic pregnancy, resulting in emergency surgery for the patient. As this lawsuit makes clear, anti-abortion centers not only harm the health and safety of people seeking abortion, but also patients in need of basic pregnancy care.
###