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A group of community leaders and public officials gathered at Courthouse Square on Monday to rally for reproductive rights, marking the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the right to an abortion.
The event, Rally for Reproductive Rights, was organized by Assembly member Diane Papan and was attended by county employees, county executive department workers and supervisors, city council members, mayors, school board members, and individuals who work in government and labor.
The rally highlighted the actions San Mateo County has taken following the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“I think the Dobbs decision took us so far back, 50 years back,” Papan said. “You can’t not be upset about that. I think my passion for the right to choose and the encroachment upon it is what brought me here today.”
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum reflected on how the Dobbs decision has affected communities, not just locally but across the country.
“Today, all across America there are protests, there are strikes, marches, all recognizing the loss of freedom,” Slocum said in his speech. “This is a somber moment for all of us as we collectively reflect on how the Dobbs decision has taken away rights and caused a huge divide in this country.”
When news of the Dobbs decision broke, San Mateo County set aside $1 million in Measure K funds to help Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, the largest affiliate in the U.S., with 35 health centers, three of which are in the county.
“The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors immediately upon hearing rumors of Dobbs unanimously passed a resolution to express our unwavering commitment to women’s reproductive freedom and healthcare privacy,” said San Mateo County Board Supervisor Dave Pine.
“It’s important that we raise our voices locally in support of women’s reproductive rights and this is a sober day in light of the Roe decision, but we can do things locally which we’ve done,” Pine said. “We have to continue to do that.”
Slocum announced San Mateo County’s decision this past month to use the allocated Measure K funds to purchase a next-generation medication inventory control system to expand timely access to reproductive health for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. Slocum presented Planned Parenthood with a ceremonial $1 million check representing the funds the county had set aside in Measure K funds.
Slocum said that part of the money initially went to technology to help support the increase that the council expected the clinic would receive.
“We are at the Dobbs anniversary rally because it is critical that people have access to sexual reproductive health care in San Mateo, and anyone who seeks care here should be able to have access,” said Lauren Babb, Planned Parenthood vice president of Public Affairs. “We are so grateful to the county and all the elected officials that support this effort to make this possible for our patients.”
Dr. Namrata Mastey, associate medical director for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, was invited to speak on some of the stories she has witnessed working for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, noting two stories of women traveling from Texas and Florida in order to obtain an abortion.
“While we are grateful to be able to provide care, we are devastated for the patients who cannot access care or who have such difficulty in accessing this care,” Mastey said in her speech. “These stories highlight a painful reality; the Dobbs decision has created a patchwork of access across the country, leaving many to navigate an unjust and confusing system. … Here in California, we are fortunate to be a beacon of hope and a sanctuary. …
But our fight is far from over. We must continue to advocate for nationwide access, ensuring that every person, regardless of their zip code, has the right to make decisions about their own body,” she added.
