More than 200 Indiana businesses sign ACLU letter opposing abortion restrictions
One day after leadership for the Indiana Senate Republicans unveiled the language for a proposed bill banning abortion except in cases of rape, incest and when the mother's life is in danger, ACLU of Indiana released a letter signed by 200-plus businesses opposing abortion restrictions.
"Bans on equality put our families, communities, businesses and the economy at risk," says the letter, titled Don't Ban Equality. "We, the undersigned, employ Hoosiers across the state of Indiana and stand against policies that hinder people’s health, independence and ability to fully succeed in the workplace."
During an 11 a.m. news conference at Emmis Communications on Thursday, the ACLU of Indiana said more than 250 businesses representing more than 39 communities across the state had signed on to the letter. Signees include small business Silver in the City on Mass. Avenue, Emmis Communications on Monument Circle as well as The Startup Ladies, a company that supports female entrepreneurs as they grow and scale their businesses, among others.
In the letter, the businesses identify abortion as a part of comprehensive reproductive health care, crucial to the health, independence and the economic stability of their employees. They say that restricting the procedure goes against their values and is bad for business.
"It impairs our ability to build diverse and inclusive workforce pipelines, recruit top talent across the states, and protect the well-being of all the people who keep our businesses thriving day in and out," the letter reads.
During the news conference, ACLU Advocacy and Public Policy Director Katie Blair said the letter will be part of the organization's testimony regarding the proposed bill to ban abortion, with narrow exceptions, in Indiana. Hearings will take place next week at the Statehouse.
"I hope that our lawmakers recognize that Indiana does not need any more abortion restrictions and that they don't pass Senate Bill 1," Blair said, adding that the ACLU of Indiana will assess the bill at every step. Even prior to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision, she said Indiana had highly-restrictive abortion laws that lawmakers chipped at every year.
"We still have rights and we still have Constitutional rights. Roe may have been overturned, but women still have rights here in Indiana," Blair said.
More:Here's how Indiana representatives voted for contraception, marriage protections
The ACLU of Indiana circulated the letter for two weeks and secured the signatures before publishing the list of signees as a full-page ad in Thursday's edition of the IndyStar. Businesses that signed on represent the hospitality industry, retail, communications and tech. Blair implored more businesses to add their names to the letter via the ACLU website.
"The businesses that signed on to the 'Don't Ban Equality' letter understand that equality in the workplace is one of the most important business issues of our time," Blair said. "When everyone is empowered to succeed our companies, our communities and our economy is better for it."
Those joining Blair on stage during the press conference include Kristin Kohn, owner of the Silver in the City; Ashley Brooks, owner of A.Rose Hospitality; Tracy Robertson, owner of Mass Ave Pub; Kristen Cooper, CEO and founder of The Startup Ladies; Lisa Sirkin Vielee, president of Well Done Marketing and DJ Gabby Love of ZESCO.
Kohn, owner of Silver in the City, acknowledged that some may feel that access to abortion is not a business issue. But, she said women are a vital part of Indiana's economy and anyone who employs women should stand up for equality and vocalize their support of women employees and colleagues.
Women forced into pregnancy may not be able to return to their jobs, Kohn noted.
"When we take away their rights to make reproductive choices that are in the best interest of their health, family, education and employment, we are stripping them of opportunity and hobbling our economy as a result," she said.
Kohn implored lawmakers to make decisions and pass laws based on what's in the best interest of Hoosier women and allow them to control their own health care. In the aftermath of the unveiling of Senate Bill 1 on Wednesday, Blair also asked business owners to educate lawmakers on adverse effects that could result from an abortion ban.
She said women in states with better access to contraception have higher median wages, experience better job mobility and are more likely to pursue full-time work.
"Those things are relative to women in states like ours with poor contraceptive access," she said. "Restrictions on reproductive health care will impair Indiana's ability to build diverse and inclusive workforce pipelines, to recruit top talent across the state and protect the well-being of all people who keep our businesses thriving day in and day out."
The ACLU letter's release comes several weeks after another letter that asked Gov. Eric Holcomb to protect reproductive health care rights circulated the business community in Indianapolis. A preliminary draft of that letter included the names of more than 60 businesses.
Notably absent from both letters are some of the state's large corporations such as Eli Lilly & Co., Cummins Inc., Roche, Rolls Royce and others that previously have taken public stances on racial equity, LGBTQ rights, and the Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Blair said all people need to come to the table, adding that the organization has discussions with businesses large and small all the time.
While the ACLU is mobilizing in opposition of Indiana moving to ban most abortions, a group of religious leaders across the state also are coming together with a statement expressing their concerns about the potential abortion restrictions.
Signed by nearly 400 religious leaders, that letter focuses on Hoosiers' religious freedom and bodily autonomy. "Reproductive health care is a uniquely sensitive and private matter and one that uniquely affects a woman’s ability to stand in equal citizenship in society; make choices in the best interests of her family; and determine how, when, and why to use her God-given talents and abilities in the world,” it says. That letter will be delivered to the governor and all Indiana legislators.
The religious leaders include rabbis from major synagogues, leaders from the Christian Theological Seminary, Episcopal Church, Hindu Temple, Unitarian Universalists, Presbyterian Church (USA), Muslim Advocacy Network, United Methodists, and United Church of Christ, according to a press release. Meanwhile, on the other side of the fight over abortion, Indiana Right to Life President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Fichter also issued a statement following the unveiling of the Indiana Senate’s proposed Senate Bill 1 on Wednesday, calling it weak and troubling.
Fichter said the bill falls short of what Indiana Right To Life and anti-abortion supporters communicated to lawmakers after the overturning of Dobbs.
"This bill goes through the motions on paper, but lacks any teeth to actually reduce abortions in Indiana by holding those who perform abortions or would intentionally skirt the law accountable with criminal consequences," he said in a statement.
"As the bill reads now, the 8,000-plus abortions that take place annually in Indiana would continue unabated in counties like Marion County where the prosecutor has already stated he will not enforce the law. That is unacceptable and pro-life Hoosiers will not silently let that stand."
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana abortion: 200+ businesses sign letter opposing restrictions
