cry v. Tech Execution Feedback on Wade Reversal: Gates, Sandberg, Wojcicki
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and the late META COO Sheryl Sandberg were among notable tech executives speaking publicly on Friday’s Supreme Court decision, which saw Roe v. Wade reversed. The ruling ends the constitutional right to abortion in the US, which has stood since 1973.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and many otherwise politically outspoken venture capital investors have so far been publicly silent on the decision.
Elon Musk’s Twitter account, which currently has 99.5 million followers, featured a pinned tweet from May that said, “USA birth rate has been below the minimum sustainable level for ~50 years.”
In September 2021, Musk declined to discuss Texas’ tighter abortion restrictions, saying he would prefer to stay out of politics. However, Governor Greg Abbott said the Tesla CEO supported his state’s “social policies” at the time. Recently, Musk said he would consider voting for Florida Governor DeSantis for president. DeSantis is moving today to ban abortion even more in his state.
The court’s anticipatory reversal of Roe v. Wade leaves states with the power to set their own abortion laws, including an outright ban on all surgical and drug abortions. Twenty-six states in total are expected to ban them severely, if not outright ban abortion after the ruling, according to an analysis by the Guttmacher Institute.
Abortion bans in Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky and South Dakota went into effect immediately.
When abortion is not legal or available, people face health risks that can be fatal in some cases. For example, a 31-year-old dentist named Savita Halappanavar died of septicemia in Ireland in 2012 after she was denied an abortion during an abortion. After his death a movement arose and Ireland later amended its laws to allow legal abortion.
Here’s what these tech executives said after the ruling was released on Friday:
Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO
“I believe that CEOs have a responsibility to take care of their employees – no matter what. Salesforce transfers employees when they feel threatened or experienced discrimination. For our Ohana – We always make sure you get the best benefits and care, and we will always have your back. Always. [heart emoji],
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
“It’s a sad day. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is an unjust and unacceptable blow. And it puts women’s lives at risk, especially those of the most disadvantaged.”
Jeff Lawson, Twilio CEO –
“This is a dark day in our nation’s history. Taking away this basic human right adversely affects the most vulnerable women across the country. Both I and Twilio support every woman’s right to choose.”
“Whether the issue is gun safety, women’s rights, or even the election of a majority of officials, it is becoming increasingly difficult and difficult for a government to reflect the will of the majority. Often the vast majority. We need to reform. the wanted.
“I believe that the very legitimacy of our government is beginning to come into question. Between a completely non-government house, a Senate ruled by a filibuster-drawn minority, and a Supreme Court Whose moral authority has been destroyed by wrong seats… it is time for reform.”
Sheryl Sandberg Leaving Meta COO:
On public Facebook posts:
“I grew up hearing stories from my mother about what women went through in our country before we cried. My mother had a friend who left the country to have a safe abortion. Most women couldn’t afford to do that Some had back street abortions, which often led to serious health complications and sometimes death. All women knew they faced impossible choices between taking control of their future and their health and breaking the law .
“I never thought that my mother’s past would become my daughters’ future. I can’t believe I’m going to send my three daughters to college with less rights than mine.
“The Supreme Court’s decision has put the health and lives of millions of girls and women at risk across the country. It threatens to undo the progress made by women in the workplace and strip women of economic power. It will be difficult to achieve their dreams and it will adversely affect the women with the least resources.
“This is a huge blow. For ourselves, our daughters, and every generation to come, we must continue to fight. Together, we must protect and expand access to abortion.”
Jeremy Stoppelman, CEO of Yelp –
“Today’s SCOTUS regime puts women’s health at risk, denies them their human rights, and threatens to erode the progress we’ve made toward gender equality in the workplace since Roe. Business World U.S. leaders should speak up now and call on Congress to codify Roe into law.”
Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO –
“As a CEO I recognize that there is a spectrum of opinions on SCOTUS’ decision today. As a woman, it is a devastating blow. I personally believe that every woman has the right to become a mother. There should be a choice about the way of life. Reproductive rights are human rights.”