East Central Reporter

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at a press conference that her city will be a safe space for safe abortions.

“We’re here, not only to voice our opposition and our outrage to the Supreme Court’s decision but to reassure our brothers and sisters all across the country that Chicago and Illinois will remain a haven for all who value justice,” Lightfoot said, according to WBEZ.

Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) wrote on Facebook that Lightfoot is using legal abortion to the city’s advantage.

“Lightfoot and her economic development team are trying to use abortion politics to their full advantage,” Halbrook wrote on Facebook. “They dropped off letters at Chicago’s main post office to 300 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies located in states where abortion rights are in jeopardy after last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.”

According to Fox 32, World Business Chicago sent letters Monday to heads of Fortune 500 companies in states where reproductive rights have been lost or may be curtailed to invite the 300 CEOs to move to Chicago for the sake of employees affected by-laws banning or criminalizing abortions.

Heavy restrictions or bans on abortions could apply in 25 states now that the high court has overturned Roe vs. Wade, said the letter. It was signed by Lightfoot, Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments, and Michael Fassnacht, CEO of World Business Chicago.

Although many Republicans like Halbrook want to control people’s access to abortions,abortion restriction cause women to seek unsafe abortions. Amnesty International wrote people will have abortions regardless of the law.

Fassnacht told the Chicago Sun-Times that he has had “ongoing conversations” with CEOs about how they cannot build a great corporate culture if local laws “don’t respect all their employees.” But he would not say directly if he has spoken with the heads of Boeing, Caterpillar or Citadel, companies that in recent weeks have said they are taking their headquarters out of Chicago.

“I would not be surprised if employees have raised concerns” about the moves, Fassnacht said.

The World Health Organization wrote unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal deaths and morbidities.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the letter was mailed to about 300 CEOs in 25 states that are enacting trigger bans, restricting access and criminalizing abortion. It warns that employees in those states “may suffer” and see their lives upended as a result of the decision to end the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right.

“As you weigh the repercussions facing your employees, customers and vendors, we welcome the opportunity to highlight (how) Chicago remains a welcoming city for all,” the letter states.