Human Rights Commission Weighs Civil Rights Complaint Over Alleged Misinformation on Abortion Pill

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – The Human Rights Commission reviewed a letter from a member of the community outlining a civil rights violation at their meeting last week.

It was a difficult discussion because information in the complaint was incomplete and commissioners were unclear about their roles and responsibilities with such complaints.

According to the letter, a couple was seeking medical advice but there was no information about who they were talking with. The letter explains that they were given false and misleading information about the abortion pill and false and gruesome details about its effects. The complainants felt their civil rights were violated and overridden by a health provider’s political and religious beliefs.

Commission Chairwoman Shay Hossaini called the incident volatile, disgusting and unacceptable.

“As someone who works in healthcare, I hear this all the time,” she said adding she was hoping there was a way the commission could show the complainants their support.

“But we don’t have the power to do much,” said Hossaini. The commission does not have the authority to intercede in disputes.

Steven Morabito, the city’s director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, who also serves as executive director of the commission, explained how the commission should proceed with complaints from residents.

According to Morabito, as executive director, he would interview any complainants. If he determined that the complaint involved discrimination, he would refer complainants to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination or the Attorney General’s office. He would then file a report with the commission.

The commission voted to create a mediation group that would hear concerns and complaints about civil rights violations. Residents can submit complaints on the commission’s website.

Commissioner Lourenco Garcia stressed that the website should make it clear that the commission is not a decision-making body. Garcia said complaints are often from people who just want to be heard.

“Our job is to listen and look for resources to empower people and help them make informed decisions,” he said.