To the Editor,

The overturning of Roe v. Wade has severe ramifications for millions of women across America. Thankfully in Rhode Island in 2019, advocacy organizations successfully lobbied the General Assembly to codify Roe v. Wade into Rhode Island law by passing the Reproductive Privacy Act (RPA). The recent Dobbs v. Jackson decision has made it necessary once again to enshrine into Rhode Island law the right of Rhode Islanders to access reproductive healthcare services like abortion, particularly for low-income people and those with disabilities.

That is why it is so important that the General Assembly pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA). This bill would allow the 14,000+ state employees and the thousands of Rhode Islanders on Medicaid to have reproductive healthcare procedures like abortion covered by their insurance. This care can be necessary due to an individual’s unique medical conditions and is sometimes literally a matter of life and death. The uncertainty over the future of reproductive rights in America makes a very strong case for the necessity of passing the EACA right now. On WPRI just last week, Speaker Shekarchi said the votes “weren’t there” for the bill, and that to pass the EACA there would need to be more supportive Democrats voted into office. So, we will do just that.

My name is Zakary Pereira. I am a Democrat running for State Representative in District 22 (Oakland Beach, Warwick Neck, Bayside) against the incumbent Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr who voted against the RPA and does not support the EACA. If elected to the General Assembly this fall, I will fight to pass the EACA and continue to defend the right to reproductive healthcare here in Rhode Island.

Zakary Pereira

Democratic Candidate for State Representative – District 22 (Oakland Beach, Warwick Neck, Bayside)