What corporations are saying about the end of constitutional protections for abortion
Billionaire Elon Musk just bought Twitter. Billionaire Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post. Billionaire Rupert Murdoch owns the Wall Street Journal and Fox News. Now, more than ever, we need independent reporting that isn't afraid to take on the powerful and isn't controlled by the ultra rich. You can strengthen Popular Information's accountability journalism with a paid subscription. And you don't need to be a billionaire to afford it. It's $6 per month or $50 per year. To stay fully independent, Popular Information does not accept any advertising. This newsletter only exists because of the support of readers like you. Corporations can play a critical role in pushing back against state action that undermines fundamental rights. In 2016, for example, the Georgia legislature passed a bill that would have allowed private businesses to refuse to serve LGBTQ people. Disney and Netflix threatened to boycott the state if it became law. Georgia's Republican Governor, Nathan Deal, vetoed the bill. The same year, North Carolina enacted a law that prohibited trans people from using the bathroom that was consistent with their gender identity. The law also repealed and banned local statutes that protected LGBTQ people from discrimination. Corporations responded by pulling investments from the state, including a PayPal facility projected to generate billions in economic activity. North Carolina repealed the law a year later. Today, the Supreme Court is poised to remove constitutional protections for abortions. At the same time, states have passed legislation that will ban all or nearly all abortions as soon as the Supreme Court issues its decision. As the New York Times notes, "abortion is a business issue" because "women make up half of the workforce." So what does corporate America have to say? Mostly, nothing at all. Almost all corporations are staying silent, hoping to avoid controversy. The New York Times received no comment from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Oracle, JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, Disney, Meta, Airbnb, ThirdLove, Kroger, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This report details the exceptions to that rule, cataloging the corporations that have spoken out or taken action in anticipation of abortion bans being imposed in numerous states. Corporations that have spoken outThe most robust statement about the Supreme Court's anticipated decision overturning Roe v. Wade, was issued by Levi's on Wednesday: "Protecting Reproductive Rights – A Business Imperative." An excerpt:
Levi's said that, consistent with its existing policies, "Levi Strauss & Co. employees are eligible for reimbursement for healthcare-related travel expenses for services not available in their home state, including those related to reproductive health care and abortion." Levi's is also extending this benefit to hourly employees that do not receive company healthcare. "Given what is at stake, business leaders need to make their voices heard and act to protect the health and well-being of our employees. That means protecting reproductive rights," the statement concludes. Virgin CEO Richard Branson posted a statement on the company's corporate website: "Their bodies, their choice." An excerpt:
The dating site OK Cupid tweeted that Roe v. Wade "being overturned is unacceptable." #RoeVWade being overturned is unacceptable. OkCupid has proudly supported reproductive rights for years, and we’re not stopping now. Gender equality is at stake and more brands need to step up. Tag a brand you want to see take action and sign DontBanEquality.com. OK Cupid links to a statement in support of reproductive rights that was signed by a few dozen, mostly smaller, companies. That effort, called "Don't Ban Equality," was launched in 2019. Corporations reimbursing employees for travel expensesIn addition to Levi's, three other companies — Amazon, Citi, and Yelp — announced they will pay for employees to travel to obtain an abortion if they are unable to obtain care locally. While the announcements were made prior to the leak of the Supreme Court decision, they were made in anticipation of a legal environment where local abortion access is difficult to obtain for many employees. While these policies recognize the necessity of abortion access, they also underscore how restrictions on abortion disproportionately impact the least well-off. Someone with a job at a major corporation may continue to have access to abortion. Someone making sub-minimum wage as a waiter at a local restaurant will likely lose access. Even for those who maintain access through travel subsidies, it still adds a tremendous burden to an already difficult process. Two of the companies providing this benefit, Amazon and Citi, have donated extensively to committees that support anti-abortion candidates at the state and federal level. We will update this list as more corporations speak out or take action on this issue. If you have information that should be included please email rebecca@popular.info. |
Older messages
These 13 corporations have spent $15 million supporting anti-abortion politicians since 2016
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
A draft Supreme Court opinion, published by Politico on Monday evening, would strike down Roe v. Wade — eliminating the constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for 48 years. “
The two flavors of Republican candidates in the 2022 primaries
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
There are two primary flavors of Republican candidates in 2022, and they are competing to be the Republican gubernatorial nominee in Georgia. The first type of candidate is represented by former
Elon Musk's China problem
Monday, May 2, 2022
"The expansion of shelter-in-place, or as we call it, forcibly imprisoning people in their homes… is, in my opinion, breaking people's freedoms in ways that are horrible and wrong… What the
Major corporations quietly funnel millions to national group behind regressive state laws
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Republican state legislators across the country have embraced an aggressively regressive agenda, targeting the LGBTQ community, abortion access, voting rights, and candid discussions of race in
Corporations get massive pandemic windfall, stiff workers
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
For most Americans, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a traumatic experience. Nearly 1 million Americans have died. Millions more lost their jobs. And nearly everyone had their daily lives upended
You Might Also Like
NPR Suspends Editor, a Massive Black Hole, and Floridian Plays ‘Find the Alligator’
Thursday, May 2, 2024
NPR has suspended the editor who wrote an essay criticizing the network's political bias, saying he didn't get proper approval before publishing his essay. The suspension is for five days
Ohio Rejects Biden Ballot Plan, NBA Player Banned, and a Volcano That Spits Gold
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost rejected an effort by state Democrats to circumvent a key election deadline and allow President Biden on the state's November general election ballot. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Trump Jury Seated, Six-Year-Old Rescues Family, and a Mouse-Sized Village
Thursday, May 2, 2024
All 12 jurors and one alternate were seated for former President Trump's so-called "hush money" trial Thursday after two previously accepted jurors were dismissed earlier in the day. ͏
Welcome to The Flyover
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Thanks for joining The Flyover! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Man Lights Himself on Fire, Hockey Playoffs Begin, and Cold Case Playing Cards
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Authorities have identified the man who set himself on fire outside a Manhattan courthouse Friday as Max Azzarello, a self-described investigative researcher from Florida. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
House OKs Ukraine Aid, Reddick Wins at Talladega, and Little Lambs Go to School
Thursday, May 2, 2024
The House passed a series of bills Saturday to provide $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as a measure forcing the sale of Chinese company-owned TikTok. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Student Protests, Secret Places in the USA, plus Dolphins, Rhinos and a Gator
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Pro-Palestinian student protests spilled across the Ivy League Monday as police arrested dozens at Yale, the gates to Harvard Yard were closed to the public, and Columbia shut down in-person classes
Welcome to The Flyover
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Thanks for joining The Flyover! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Welcome to The Flyover
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Thanks for joining The Flyover! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Welcome to The Flyover
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Thanks for joining The Flyover! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏