Council Affirms Person's 'Right To Choose,' Asks Court To Reconsider

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Beverly Hills City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution affirming a person's "right to choose" and asking the Supreme Court not to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The decision comes after Politico published a draft Supreme Court decision indicating Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that made abortion legal in all 50 states, could be overturned.

The council will send the resolution to Supreme Court, "not that they're going to care," Councilmember John Mirisch said. Mirisch called the potential decision an attack on women's bodily autonomy.

"The city of Beverly Hills hereby affirms its support for a [person's] right to privacy in making their own medical decisions, including a right to choose to have an abortion or not," the draft resolution reads.

The resolution also affirms a person's right to choose "therapeutic alternatives" to abortion, like emergency contraception.

Councilmembers noted that Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his intention to amend the California Constitution to codify abortion rights. Councilmembers also noted the overturn of Roe v. Wade could have sweeping effects on other Americans' rights, like gay marriage.

"The whole thinking of that decision is really going to undermine fundamental rights that have been passed. this is the tip of affecting gay rights, gay marriage because those were not fundamental rights in the 1700s which is ridiculous," Friedman said. "This is really a dangerous, dangerous decision not only for women in our society but for all rights that have been passed in the past few years that didn't exist in the 1700s.'

Mayor Lili Bosse said this issue is highly emotional for her.

"I feel very strongly that we have stood up, we have spoken ut when we've seen human rights be taken away. ... I feel that this is a necessity that we do this, one for our ancestors and also for the future. This is something I wholeheartedly support with all my soul," Bosse said.