Framingham Democrats Update Protocols After Chair's Abortion Comments

This story was updated at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17.

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Comments made by the leader of the Framingham Democrats in a letter to the City Council regarding crisis pregnancy centers have landed him in hot water. Now, he's walking them back.

Chairman Michael Hugo has released an apology, stating that the letter sent to the City Council didn't properly reflect his thoughts on the issue.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a crisis pregnancy center, or CPC, "is a term used to refer to certain facilities that represent themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics providing care for pregnant people but actually aim to dissuade people from accessing certain types of reproductive health care, including abortion care and even contraceptive options."

Hugo, in the letter to the council, called these dangerous, and stated that there are some operating less than five miles away from Framingham. However, the conflict arose when, in the same letter, he brought up children with disabilities in the same conversation as abortion.

Included below is an excerpt from the letter residents deemed most problematic:

"As for those who say that our Council has no business dealing with a 'state issue', we ask if the state is going to cover the medical costs for a fetus that had sound medical reason to be terminated? Is the state going to pay for the extraordinary medical expense of a child wth an atrial septal defect? How much does Framingham's Public School Department pay for unreimbursed special needs school transportation, specialized education and durable supplies?"

In trying to address why residents should be concerned about the issue, Hugo brought a bigger problem to his organization's doorstep, with Politico reporting that some have called for him to step down. The publication reports that he won't be doing so, but Hugo did issue an apology, which he passed along to Patch.

Read Hugo's apology in full below:

"I am writing to offer my most sincere and humble apology to members of the Framingham Democratic Committee, but more especially my fellow members of Framingham's disability family community, for comments that I made at the last City Council meeting which were offensive and hurtful.

Nothing in my comments was meant to be derogatory or hurtful and although the Framingham Democratic Committee authorized me to express support for the proclamation, the committee did not see or review my full remarks that were sent out at 12:46 A.M. the night before the City
Council vote. Unfortunately, my remarks were poorly drafted, hastily put together and as a result, they did not accurately reflect the meaning of what I was trying to say.

The bottom line is that I owe you an apology without any excuses or equivocation, because my innermost feelings tell me that it is the right thing to do, especially when I know in my heart of hearts that I have upset people I truly care for and about.

In closing, I have nothing but gratitude for the services, education, and love Framingham has shown our family over the years."

On Friday, the executive committee of the Framingham Democrats issued a statement, adding that they've put new protocols in place to prevent these mistakes with future communications. Read it in full below:

“The Chair’s remarks were harmful, misleading, and wrong. They did not accurately reflect the vote of the full Framingham Democratic Committee and we fully disavow and denounce them. We are deeply sorry to all for these remarks and have put in place processes to avoid future occurrences.”