Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and outgoing Meta chief operating officer Cheryl Sandberg were among the notable technology executives who spoke publicly at the Supreme Court ruling on Friday, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The decision puts an end to the constitutional right to abortion in the United States, which has existed since 1973.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and many other politically outspoken venture capitalists have so far maintained public silence on the decision.
Elon Musk’s Twitter account, which currently has 99.5 million followers, includes a tweet from May that said, “The birth rate in the United States is below the minimum sustainable levels of ~ 50 years.”
In September 2021, Musk declined to discuss strict restrictions on abortions in Texas and said he preferred to stay out of politics. However, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tesla’s CEO supported his country’s “social policies” at the time. Most recently, Musk said he would consider voting for Florida Gov. DeSantis as president. DeSantis is working to further limit abortions in his state today.
The expected annulment of the court of Roe v. Wade leaves the states the power to determine their own abortion laws, including outright bans on all surgical and medical abortions. A total of twenty-six states are expected to severely, if not completely, ban abortions after the decision, according to an analysis by the Gutmacher 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 Halapanavar died of septicemia in 2012 in Ireland after she was denied an abortion during a miscarriage. After her death, a movement arose, and Ireland later changed its laws to allow legal abortions.
Here is what these technical managers said after the decision was issued on Friday:
Mark Benioff, CEO of Salesforce
“I believe that CEOs have a responsibility to take care of their employees – no matter what. Salesforce relocates employees when they feel threatened or discriminated against. For our Ohana – we always ensure that you have the best benefits and care, and we will always be on your back. Always. [heart emoji]”
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft –
“It’s a sad day. Rowe’s turn against Wade is an unfair and unacceptable obstacle. And it puts women’s lives at risk, especially the most disadvantaged.”
Jeff Lawson, CEO of Twilio –
“This is a grim day in the history of our nation. Deprivation of this basic human right disproportionately affects the most vulnerable women across the country. Both Twilio and I support every woman’s right to choose.”
“Whether it is a question of gun safety, women’s rights or even the election of officials by a majority of votes, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the government to reflect the will of the majority. Often the vast majority. We need reform.
“I believe that the very legitimacy of our government is beginning to be called into question. Between a perfectly tidy house, a senate ruled by a minority ready for a filibuster, and a Supreme Court whose moral authority has been eroded by misappropriated seats… It’s time for reform.
Cheryl Sandberg leaving Meta COO:
In a public post on Facebook:
“I grew up listening to stories from my mother about what women in our country went through before Rowe. My mother had a friend who left the country to have a safe abortion. Most women could not afford to do this; some had congestion abortions, which all too often led to serious health complications and sometimes even death. All women knew that it was possible to face the impossible choice between controlling their future and health and breaking the law.
“I never imagined 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 fewer rights than I had.
“The decision of the Supreme Court endangers the health and lives of millions of girls and women across the country. It threatens to undo the progress that women have made in the workplace and deprive women of economic power. It will make it difficult for women to achieve And this will disproportionately affect women with the least resources.
“This is a huge failure. For ourselves, our daughters and each succeeding generation, we must continue the battle. Together, we must protect and expand access to abortion.”
Jeremy Stopelman, CEO of Yelp –
“Today’s SCOTUS decision puts women’s health at risk, deprives them of their human rights and threatens to destroy the progress we have made towards gender equality in the workplace after Roe. Business leaders must speak now and call on Congress to codify Roe into law “
Susan Vodjiki, CEO of YouTube –
“As CEO, I admit that there are many opinions about the management of SCOTUS today. As a woman, this is a devastating failure. I personally believe that every woman should have a choice of how and when to become a mother. Reproductive rights are human rights “
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