1 From: Lata Murti
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 10:45 AM
To: Web-City Clerk
Subject: Written Public Comment for Jan. 16 City Council Mtg., Item 9.a *** EXTERNAL EMAIL: Please use caution when opening links or attachments.*** Dear Santa Maria City Council Members:
As a member of the Core Collective/Colectivx Central of Women’s March Santa Maria Valley, I am appalled to learn that item 9.a on the agenda for tonight’s January 16, 2024 meeting is to issue a proclamation recognizing January 21, 2024- January 27, 2024 “Respect for Life Week.”
With the theme “Pro-Life: With Every Woman, for Every Child” and a March for Life scheduled in Washington D.C. on January 19—just one day before the National Women’s March movement schedules its annual events—“Respect for Life Week” is clearly making a statement against Women’s March’s staunch support of reproductive rights for all people throughout the United States. And the City of Santa Maria should not be supporting this statement against a pregnant person’s right to choose what is best for their body and their life.
Indeed, the Santa Maria City Council has also issued more than one proclamation recognizing March 8 as International Women’s Day; and Women’s March Santa Maria Valley, among other local groups championing women’s rights, has been honored to receive those proclamations.
However, also issuing a proclamation recognizing January 21-January 27, 2024 “Respect for Life Week” directly contradicts earlier proclamations in support of not only women’s rights, but also human rights. The City Council of Santa Maria cannot proclaim to support both what “Respect for Life Week” advocates and also what “International Women’s Day” advocates. Nor should the City Council be making a proclamation supporting an event started and promoted by religious organizations throughout the nation. Doing so directly violates the separation of church and state.
I urge the Santa Maria City Council to reconsider and withdraw the proclamation recognizing January 21, 2024-January 27, 2024 “Respect for Life Week.”
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Lata Murti, Ph.D., Core Collective/Colectivx Central, Women’s March Santa Maria Valley
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Lata Murti, Ph.D.
Consultant, Climbing Vine~DEI Consulting & Training~Editing~Tutoring in Writing, Spanish, & Social Sciences
Co-Host, Central Coast Voices, KCBX Public Radio
Collaborator, Cultural Creations Collaborative, LLC
Project Assistant, Our Roots, Our Routes: Living Histories of California's Central Coast Core Collective/Colectivx Central, Women's March Santa Maria Valley DEI Advisor, AAUW-California
2 Past Co-President and DEI Chair, AAUW-Santa Maria
Education Subcommittee Member, Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP