Diversity Council encourages using resources listed to gain insight of how diversity, equity, & inclusion are impacted from rulings made by SCOTUS.
Public Release Statement
by Diversity Council Staff
In recent weeks the Supreme Court of the United States has made several significant rulings with equity ramifications.
On June 24th, the Supreme Court ruling was officially announced overturning Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that secured the liberty to choose an abortion. The ruling effectively stripped away federal protection for women and people with uteruses ensuring their right to choose to end a pregnancy. Regardless of the draft being leaked and the conversations surrounding Roe v Wade leading up to the announcement, the decision still leaves millions of individuals with a sense of frustration, exhaustion, and panic. Marches and protests throughout the country have erupted and state-level anti-abortion trigger laws have gone into effect or soon will go into effect, leaving many feeling uncertain about what will happen next.
While the future is not clear, at Diversity Council we believe that this is a health equity issue impacting individual rights to privacy, equitable access to care, and personal safety, and affecting individuals of lower socioeconomic status most negatively.
In Minnesota specifically, the overturning of Roe v Wade leaves the right to an abortion intact. Governor Walz has vowed to protect the right of individuals with uteruses to choose and those who come from other states seeking care. This creates the potential for an influx of care seekers from other states and some clinicians residing in restrictive border states choose to relocate to Minnesota.
Clinics and health centers may see increased protest activities with the potential for increased intimidation and violence. There is a greater need for those entering a clinic or health center to confirm that safety precautions or plans are in place before visiting, meaning that some will choose not to get reproductive or other health care.
Additionally, reproductive rights are on the upcoming ballot in Minnesota and Governor Walz has urged Minnesotans to vote at the polls this November. And this week, a Minnesota District Court judge declared most of the state's restrictions on abortion unconstitutional and reaffirmed our state's constitutional right to choose abortion and to access abortion care.
Yet, across the nation, there is uncertainty around long-term outcomes. More than a dozen states have trigger laws requiring a simple signature to enact an abortion ban. The impacts are profound, including greater inequities in access to healthcare, increased expense, disruption for those seeking care decreased safety in both physical and psychological sense, and higher mortality rates among those attempting home procedures or remedies. The ruling may also lead to increases in domestic violence, incidents of death by suicide, and in missing persons’ cases.
Protests have occurred on both sides of the issue as States take action and individuals express their dismay. On social media, both sides have messages trending, from offers of support for those crossing state lines to threats against them.
It is important for everyone to be conscious of their emotional and physical well-being during these uncertain and frustrating times. Some precautions include focusing on safety while protesting or entering a space where protests or threats are likely, being cautious when conversing with individuals you may not know on the internet, and checking in with those you know who may be struggling.
We also acknowledge that this ruling will affect all people in different ways. Outcomes such as losing a loved one, facing charges for helping someone access their right to choose, and increased strain on family placement systems will impact thousands. And, as many have foreshadowed, the ruling may pave the way for restrictions of other protections such as same-sex marriage, interracial marriage, or voting rights.
Repercussions will be far-reaching, but it is critical to call out that people of historically marginalized identities will experience the most significant negative effects. Disparities already exist in access to reproductive care, an area of inequity that will expand as more obstacles spring up from the Court's decision.
Listen, Learn, and Act.
Diversity Council’s purpose is to grow equitable communities rooted in compassion where all facets of human identity are understood and respected, and where every individual acts conscientiously and with courage.
To understand Roe v. Wade and exercise the right to choose in safe ways, we’ve compiled a list of resources:
Listen
to individuals impacted by and providing information about
Learn
from a qualitative and quantitative perspective.
Act
and engage with content and events to learn more about the impacts of making change.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Additional Rulings
In addition to overturning Roe v Wade, over the course of the past several weeks, the Supreme Court has made several equity-related decisions and rulings. These rulings impact an individual’s right to safety, protection, and accessing civic equity.
Gun Carrying Laws in New York
The Supreme Court struck down a proposed law in New York requiring that an individual have “good cause” to carry a concealed weapon, ruling that the law violated Second Amendment protection of the right to bear arms. The decision followed an eruption of mass shootings across the country where children and adults lost their lives. The Court ruled in favor of carrying a gun without a conceal-and-carry permit for self-defense purposes. Essentially, it provides one of the broadest expansions of gun rights in the sordid history of the regulation of firearms in the United States.
The Court issued a general statement that an individual’s rights cannot be compared to or balanced against public safety, a determination the Court made based on historical context and opinion. The ruling may also nullify specific state laws and has the potential to impact our national understanding of firearm use and gun safety laws, creating the risk of even greater violence and magnifying concerns for safety. In Minnesota, there is no direct legislative impact from the ruling, but there may be repercussions as visitors to the state are emboldened to carry firearms with them. With the added uncertainty, extra caution is urged, particularly for people of color who are disproportionately impacted by gun violence
.
Listen, Learn, and Act.
Diversity Council’s purpose is to grow equitable communities rooted in compassion where all facets of human identity are understood and respected, and where every individual acts conscientiously and with courage.
To read and understand more about gun laws and conceal and carry laws, please turn to:
Listen
to individuals impacted by and providing information about
Learn
from a qualitative and quantitative perspective.
Act
and engage with content and events to learn more about the impacts of making change.
Additional Rulings
In addition to overturning Roe v Wade, over the course of the past several weeks, the Supreme Court has made several equity-related decisions and rulings. These rulings impact an individual’s right to safety, protection, and accessing civic equity.
Miranda Rights
The Supreme Court also ruled that law enforcement may use information from a suspect prior to that individual receiving and acknowledging their Miranda Rights, interpreting Miranda in a very different way than previous courts. This decision limits an individual’s right to sue law enforcement for failure to Mirandize and allows agencies to use information previously protected by Miranda. While this does not mean police and other law enforcement agencies can restrict an individual’s Miranda Rights, it does mean individuals may not have them read aloud due to a variety of factors. The announcement of this decision gives way to the potential for law enforcement agencies and officers to misuse power and mislead the very citizens they are sworn to protect and serve.
The greatest potential harm arising from the ruling is even greater disparities in the application of Miranda in marginalized communities; among Black, Indigenous, Latinx, disabled, transgender, and immigrant populations, particularly, deep inequities in the application of Miranda and in the use of coercion already exist.
We cannot stress how serious repercussions may be for BIPOC communities, children, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals with disabilities both visible and invisible, for whom the prospect of misunderstanding and false self-incrimination is very real. In any event, a rise in distrust of law enforcement, further burdening of the criminal justice system, and an increase of wrongful convictions now loom.
Listen, Learn, and Act.
Diversity Council’s purpose is to grow equitable communities rooted in compassion where all facets of human identity are understood and respected, and where every individual acts conscientiously and with courage.
To understand your rights and exercise your ability to help yourself and others, we encourage you to turn to:
Listen
to individuals impacted by and providing information about
Learn
from a qualitative and quantitative perspective.
Act
and engage with content and events to learn more about the impacts of making change.
Diversity Council encourages individuals reading these statements to utilize the resources listed to gain further understanding of how diversity, equity, and inclusion are being impacted by each decision. Diversity Council’s purpose is to grow equitable communities rooted in compassion where all facets of human identity are understood and respected, and where every individual acts conscientiously and with courage.
If you have questions about the Annual Celebration or nominating an individual for an award, please reach out to info@diversitycouncil.org
Calling for Nominations
Mulugeta Haileab Global Citizen Award:
The Global Citizen Award is presented in honor of Mulugeta Haileab. Mulugeta came to Rochester as a refugee after fleeing violence in his country of Eritrea. He understood that love, goodwill, education, and hard work serve people well, whereas violence and hatred do not. By serving as the International Liaison Officer at Mayo High School, Mulugeta was committed to ensuring students realized this and became successful citizens in the community. Mulugeta took interest in people’s lives and was a great mentor and friend.
This award serves to recognize an immigrant who has offered guidance to those in need and impacted the lives of others by demonstrating messages of compassion and diligence.
Carrie Clark Courageous Citizen Award:
The Courageous Citizen Award is presented in honor of Carrie Clark. Carrie was a voluminous writer, published poet, and extraordinary volunteer who advocated and supported individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues. She was a friend and avid supporter of the Diversity Council and NAMI, as well as a crucial member of our Human Library program.
This award serves to recognize those who fight to improve the lives of people with disabilities and mental illness, paving the way for improvement in accessibility, health care, equal employment opportunities, and community integration.
Champion of Diversity Award:
The Diversity Council works toward an equitable and inclusive community, where all individuals are empowered, conscientious, and courageous. Our focus includes not just race, but age, socioeconomic class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical & mental disabilities, and the full spectrum of human differences.
This award serves to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution toward creating a welcoming and inclusive community for all individuals.
