Roe v. Wade in the Coachella Valley: Protest set for Friday night; Catholic leaders rejoice

A billboard reading "Welcome to California where abortion is safe and still legal" stands near the intersection of Highway 111 and Bob Hope Dr. in Rancho Mirage, Calif., June 24, 2022.
A billboard reading "Welcome to California where abortion is safe and still legal" stands near the intersection of Highway 111 and Bob Hope Dr. in Rancho Mirage, Calif., June 24, 2022.

The Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade sparked strong responses from people in the Coachella Valley on Friday, with some cheering the ruling and others worrying about its impact on women and expressing fear the court could soon reverse its stance on other issues, such as gay marriage.

The decision, which is expected to prompt many states to outright ban or severely limit abortion procedures, was issued Friday morning. In California, the ruling — which now leaves decisions over abortion rights to states — was widely condemned by the state’s top officials.

"Abortion remains fully legal in California," Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a tweet. "As your Attorney General, I will continue to use the full force of the law — and the full authority of my office — to ensure that always remains true. For all Californians and for all who seek reproductive care here."

The ruling drew condemnation from some residents of the Coachella Valley, which has two Planned Parenthood facilities. A candlelight vigil organized by Planned Parenthood in response to the court's ruling was scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Friday at the Mizell Center in Palm Springs.

A separate protest against the court's decision has been organized by the Courageous Resistance of the Desert, and was tentatively set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday in front of the Palm Springs courthouse. Democratic congressional candidate Will Rollins, along with other activists, were scheduled to speak, according to organizer Jamie Trachtenberg.

Another rally, planned by the Democrats of the Morongo Basin, was scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday at the corner of Highway 62 and Old Woman Springs Road in Yucca Valley.

Elle Kurpiewski, political director of the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, argued the Supreme Court is “out of control,” noting the decision came a day after justices struck down a New York law and ruled that the Constitution provides a right to carry a gun in public.

“It’s so unbelievably wrong,” Kurpiewski said of the Roe decision. “This is an assault on women. It is absolutely an assault on anyone who does not agree with their 1950 version of America.”

Kayla Jimenez, a Desert Hot Springs resident, was on the way to the Planned Parenthood facility in Rancho Mirage on Friday when she heard the news and broke out in tears. It’s exhausting to be a woman in today’s day and age, she said outside the clinic.

“I’m thinking about all the other women who don’t have any access to the resources that I do living in California, in a blue state,” Jimenez said.

“It’s just going to put more women in danger and unsafe circumstances because if they’re taking away that access … they’re either going to perform unsafe abortions on themselves that could literally kill them or if they feel like they don’t have a choice, it could lead to depression and eventually (harming) themselves," she added.

The ruling blurs the lines between church and state, said Kaylan Jones, a Palm Springs resident who was also outside the Planned Parenthood in Rancho Mirage on Friday. She said someone’s moral beliefs should not impact her right to her body.

“It’s obviously going to stop safe abortions. It’s not going to stop abortions,” Jones said. “I don’t believe people that don’t have uteruses should have a say in people that do have uteruses.”

Some opposed to the Supreme Court’s ruling have long been worried about the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned.

Karen Borja, director of legislative and community affairs for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, said her organization “had seen the writing on the wall a few years back,” with the nominations of Supreme Court justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

“That was why it was so important for us to invest in our health centers here in the Coachella Valley,” Borja said. “We have expanded both of our health centers, and to support what we knew was coming, we also opened up new health centers last summer in Hemet and a few years back in Corona.”

Her organization remains in close contact with its partner, Planned Parenthood Arizona, about the ruling's impacts across state lines. Borja said their efforts aim “to make sure that the millions of people across our nation who have now left been left without access to abortions that are safe and legal, understand that in California, they could still come and seek care.”

“Planned Parenthood has been here for over 100 years … and we're not going anywhere,” Borja said. “Abortion is health care, and we're going to keep providing health care to all. That's the biggest message we can send out today.”

Catholic bishop praises court's move

Others cheered the ruling, which arrived more than a month after Politico published a draft of the decision.

Bishop Alberto Rojas, of the Diocese of San Bernardino, called the decision “an affirmation that every precious life created by God should be protected under law,” but also said it is “not an occasion to gloat or condemn others, it is a time to affirm God’s gift of life to all.”

Rojas also mentioned an effort by the California Legislature to make abortion a constitutional right through a proposed amendment on the November ballot, stating “we are greatly concerned by the response of our State of California’s political leaders to expand the accessibility and availability of abortion here.”

“As faithful citizens we must raise our voices against this proposed amendment!” Rojas said in a statement. “We are called in our Baptism to protect life at every stage. This is such a moment.”

That proposal has passed the Senate and must win approval from the Assembly by June 30 to qualify for the ballot.

In January, California Catholic bishops released a statement committing the church to supporting women, children and families through advocating for resources, shelters and affordable housing in anticipation of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which is also the mission of a new organization called We Were Born Ready.

Maria Valadez, director of Respect Life and Pastoral Care Programs at the Diocese of San Bernardino, told The Desert Sun that We Were Born Ready is also mobilizing Catholics to continue fighting for policies to restrict abortion on the state level.

“We cannot be silent or passive about what our state politicians are doing to target the unborn with these new extreme laws,” Valdez said. “Equally, we need to be vocal about our support for women, children and families as the bishops have stated before and continue to state.”

At least one billboard recently went up in Rancho Mirage saying "Welcome to California, where abortion is safe and still legal." Abortion opponents are trying to raise funds for counter-messaging.

A group calling itself Citizens of CV, a self-described "informal grassroots group of residents in the Coachella Valley," launched a petition on Change.org opposing the Rancho Mirage billboard and asking people to donate funds to counter with a billboard that would say, "Californians, you can choose life. Pray to end abortion." The petition had about 150 signatures as of midday Friday, and it was unclear what, if any, funds had been raised.

"We are saddened and disappointed by the messaging on the pro-abortion 'Welcome to California' billboards currently running. We also wanted to exercise our First Amendment rights by creating our own billboard. It is a blessing to live in a nation where we can express our viewpoints freely," a representative for the group said in an email to The Desert Sun, adding that it also supports the freedom of speech rights for those who support abortion rights, including Planned Parenthood and similar organizations.

Some worry that Supreme Court could change stance on LBGTQ rights

The ruling Friday from the Supreme Court also worried some members of the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ community, who think the justices could soon reverse the court’s stance on issues such as gay marriage.

Some on the Supreme Court already appear to be eyeing other decisions. Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion Friday that the court “should reconsider” its past rulings codifying rights to contraception access, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage.

Ron deHarte, a candidate for Palm Springs City Council in District 3, president of Greater Palm Springs Pride and chair of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission, said Thomas’ comments about LGBTQ marriage are “alarming.”

“We have to make choices at the ballot box that are going to ensure our rights are protected for the future and we have to understand the ballot box makes a difference,” deHarte said. “We’ve got to put people in office that can allow us to protect the rights that individuals have earned in this country, not only women, but the LGBTQ communities across the board.”

Kurpiewski said she’s heard from many people in the Coachella Valley who are concerned about what the court might do next.

“LBGTQ people, (the court) is going after them big time. This is only the beginning,” Kurpiewski said. “We're in serious trouble in this country. I cannot emphasize that enough.”

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Tom Coulter covers politics and can be reached at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Roe v. Wade abortion decision sparks worries, cheers in Palm Springs area