Wilson Strongly Condemns Racist Opposition Letter on AB 2319

Sacramento, CA – Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson has issued a response to a racist letter opposing Assembly Bill 2319, which seeks to promote equity and dignity in pregnancy and childbirth care throughout California.

The letter, written on behalf of a group known for their hateful ideologies, openly assaults the fundamental human rights of Californians based on race and ethnicity.

Assemblywoman Wilson’s statement is as follows:

“The recent racist opposition to our efforts to secure equitable health care for every Californian is not only offensive but deeply concerning. It is distressing that members of my staff and I were subjected to such vile and hateful material.

As the Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I unequivocally condemn these views, which are steeped in hate and ignorance. The language used in this letter is not only disgraceful but dangerous and has no place in our society or legislative discourse. I want to make it unequivocally clear: there is no place for hate in California.

We are committed to moving forward together, ensuring that our legislative efforts embody our unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the safeguarding of human rights for everyone.”

Assembly Bill 2319 is an essential step towards eradicating the racial disparities that plague our health care system, specifically in the areas of pregnancy and childbirth. It builds on existing laws to further ensure that healthcare providers are trained in recognizing and addressing implicit biases, including those associated with intersecting identities.

No other information was released on the letter by Wilson.

Feb 13: Legislation Seeks to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality Through Implicit Bias Training

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), and members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, introduced AB 2319 aimed to reduce the alarming and disproportionate maternal mortality rate of Black women and other pregnant persons of color by ensuring successful implementation of Senate Bill 464 (SB 464) (Mitchell), the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act of 2019 (Act).

To help reach full compliance and thus help reduce maternal mortality AB 2319 would:

• Provide clarity on which facilities are mandated to administer anti-bias trainings and which employees need to be trained.
• Establish firm deadlines by which trainings must be completed to better guide compliance.
• Confer enforcement powers to the California Department of Public Health and the Attorney General, along with accountability measures.
• Require compliance data to be posted online so the public is made aware of which facilities have provided anti-bias trainings and which have not.
• Establish administrative penalties for noncompliant facilities.
• Add inclusive language to account for nonbinary people and men of transgender experience who also carry children and give birth.

More information — full story