BROAD-BASED COALITION KICKS OFF STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT SNEAKY 62
BROAD-BASED COALITION KICKS OFF STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT SNEAKY 62
Website: 62VoteNo.orgFacebook: NO62Twitter: #NO62For More Information:
Cara DeGette, 720-979-4385
Laura Chapin, 202-236-6161
DENVER – A broad-based, bipartisan coalition of doctors, nurses, medical researchers, faith and religious leaders, community groups, attorneys and health advocacy organizations joined forces at the steps of the state capitol today, vowing to defeat Amendment 62.
Amendment 62 is a dangerous and deceptive ballot proposal that seeks to extend legal and constitutional rights to a woman’s fertilized eggs. It would ban all abortion in Colorado, including in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is at risk. It could also ban emergency contraception and commonly used forms of birth control. The measure is on the November ballot in Colorado.
“Amendment 62 eliminates a woman’s right to make personal, private decisions about her body and her health and invites politicians, lawyers and the courts to come between a woman and her doctor,” said Vicki Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. “Amendment 62 is bad for women and bad for families.”
Continued Dr. Mary Fairbanks, a Colorado family physician of more than 20 years: “Amendment 62 is bad medicine for women and for Colorado. The unclear language would certainly put medical providers who treat women of reproductive age at heightened risk of lawsuits.”
“Amendment 62 has far-reaching, negative consequences that would impact our lives as Latinas in Colorado,” said Lorena Garcia, of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR).
“We do not believe state law should be based on a religious belief or doctrine,” said Jeremy Shaver, executive director of The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. “The wording of Amendment 62 would make one religious viewpoint the law of the land when it comes to health care. Individuals may look to their own faith or other ethical considerations as they make these choices, but the government must never mandate that all Coloradans must follow the tenets of one religious viewpoint. Religious liberty is a basic right guaranteed to all Coloradans.”
“Think of the impact of restrictions on emergency contraception and other forms of birth control for women and their families who are living in poverty – and for victims of rape and domestic violence. It would be catastrophic,” said Rev. Dawn Riley Duval of African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME).
If Amendment 62 sounds familiar, it is. Two years ago, its sponsors attempted a near-virtual version to extend legal and constitutional rights to fertilized eggs. Voters rejected that effort by a more than 3-1 margin.
“Colorado voters have said time and time again that they believe women, their doctors, and their families should make their own private, personal decisions about their lives and their health,” said Fofi Mendez, Campaign Director for the NO on 62 Campaign. “Just like they said 'No' in 1998, and again in 2000, and again in 2008, we ask Colorado voters to say 'No' again in November.”
So far this year, 48 organizations have signed resolutions vowing to fight Amendment 62.
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