Executives with Bloomberg L.P., Yelp, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and Atlantic Records are among nearly 200 c-suiters who signed a letter demanding criticizing new abortion restrictions in enacted in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and other states.
The open letter says restricting access to reproductive care is “bad for business” and “goes against our values.”
“We, the undersigned, employ more than 108,000 workers and stand against policies that hinder people’s health, independence, and ability to fully succeed in the workplace,” the open letter stated.
The letter is part of a growing movement in the business world to oppose new state-level laws restricting abortion. Sponsors of several of the laws have said their goal remains a review by the Supreme Court, in hopes of reversing or at least chipping away at the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision effectively making abortion a national right.
Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Iger recently told Reuters it would be “very difficult” to film in Georgia if a new law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat detection takes effect.
“I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard,” Iger said. “Right now we are watching it very carefully.”
Netflix, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, and CBS have all threatened reconsideration of millions in investments in states that have passed or will pass heartbeat bills, according to CBS.
Director Spike Lee called to shut down production in Georgia.
“You’ve got to be on the right side of history, and the state of Georgia and those other states, they’re wrong,” Lee told CBS.
This campaign represents the largest ever on-the-record support for reproductive care, Forbes reported.
“It impairs our ability to build diverse and inclusive workforce pipelines, recruit top talent across the states, and protect the well-being of all the people who keep our businesses and the economy at risk,” the campaign stated.
