July 01, 2022
Since opening in 1971, the Rothko Chapel has worked to ensure that our shared responsibility and actions lead to a world in which all are treated with dignity and respect. For the last fifty years the Chapel has served as an organizer and convener to address and discuss some of the most urgent human rights and social justice issues of the day, including the suppression of women’s rights around the globe.
During most of the Chapel’s existence, women’s rights in the United States have been enhanced due, in part, to Roe v. Wade, which protected the right of women to make fundamental decisions about their reproductive health. The decision last week by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to roll back these protections is a violation of a basic human right that strips away the liberty of women to govern their own bodies. This marks the first time in history that the United States Supreme Court has taken away a fundamental right.
The United States has a longstanding chronicle of serving as a champion and a model for human rights globally; ending Roe might have a damaging effect around the world – even more troubling at a time when many countries have liberalized their laws surrounding reproductive rights.
While there are differing opinions and deep feelings related to the history of abortion in this country, the Rothko Chapel stands in solidarity to protect the rights of all people to make their own reproductive choices. We are aware that the debate about this critical issue will be ongoing, and support safe spaces for dialogue, peaceful protest, and collective action.