Yoopers for Ukraine: Join international protest against use of rape in war May 28 at Breakers

Yoopers for Ukraine invites supporters to join / witness this protest in solidarity with an international event at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Breakers off Canal Road. Click on poster for larger version. (Poster courtesy Yoopers for Ukraine)

HOUGHTON --  On Saturday, May 28, Yoopers for Ukraine will join Women for Ukraine in a worldwide protest against the use of rape in war -- a war crime. Concerned people are invited to join this silent protest at 10 a.m. at the Breakers on Lake Superior, off Canal Road in Stanton Township.*

On April 14, 2022, brave women stood in front of the Russian embassy in Estonia with their hands tied, bags over their heads, and blood running down their legs. On April 27, women and men in Lithuania stood against rape as a war crime in Ukraine. Since the war, many brave women have stood up against this brutality. Here, on Lake Superior Saturday morning, Yoopers for Ukraine will hold a visceral, silent protest. You may join them or witness their stand, joining women worldwide in Paris, London, Australia, various other E.U. countries, New York, California, Washington D.C., and many more states across the U.S. as they stand together at the same time, silently, to cry "no more" against the use of rape as a weapon of war.

"This is truly a worldwide movement," says Nadija Packauskas of Yoopers for Ukraine. "We have protest leaders from around the world. It covers six continents."

Rape has been used as a brutal weapon of war for centuries. In Ukraine, Russian soldiers have used rape to demoralize and denigrate women, children, and men. This atrocity is happening hourly. The stories are beyond comprehension, but sadly, they are real.

Yoopers for Ukraine has chosen the backdrop of Lake Superior to absorb the silent cries of protesters. The tears of women across the centuries could probably fill our deepest Lake. You are invited to join or witness the protest, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. and last 20 minutes. Please arrive at 10 a.m. to prepare.

Posters will be available. Some women will choose to stand in solidarity with hands tied and bloodied bodies. This is not a requirement.

"We ask only for your presence," adds Packauskas. "We will not use spoken words during this 20-minute time of silence worldwide. We will use our bodies, our signs, and our tears to give voice to the voiceless. Stand with us for this important cause. Already this movement has brought change and power. There are active fundraisers for counseling and care for victims of rape and their surviving families active because of this movement. Rape is an everlasting scar. We are hoping to add a healing balm one stand at a time!"

Yoopers for Ukraine does not recommend bringing children to this protest. It is meant to bring attention to the horrible war crime of rape in Ukraine. Yoopers for Ukraine will be broadcasting live via London with other groups around the world. Do not miss this opportunity to stand in solidarity for truth.

*Click here for a map and directions to the Breakers.

Vigil for Peace and Action to be held at Bridgeview Park Friday, May 27

Poster courtesy Keweenaw Faiths United. 

HOUGHTON -- Keweenaw Faiths United will host a Vigil for Peace and Action Friday, May 27, at Bridgeview Park, Houghton.

Recent gun violence, particularly the mass shooting in the Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, has left many of us at a loss for words -- without a sense of what to do next. You are invited to a moment to gather in community, hold space for grief and care, and learn different ways to take action towards building peace in our own community.
5:30 p.m.  -- Vigil
6:15 p.m. -- Bridge walk, with non-political posters for peace.  

This is an interfaith and non-partisan event, sponsored by Keweenaw Faiths United. Kid friendly. All are welcome.

Gov. Whitmer lowers Flag to honor victims of shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas

LANSING -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Biden, has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the State of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff from Tuesday, May 24, through Saturday, May 28, to honor and remember the victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.     

"My heart breaks for the students, teachers, staff, and families of Robb Elementary School," said Governor Whitmer on Tuesday. "The death of multiple students and the shooting of many others is horrific. Our state is in mourning alongside the parents who had their children taken from them today and the entire community in Uvalde, Texas."   

On Tuesday, fourteen students and one teacher were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The suspected shooter was fatally wounded by responding law enforcement.

The State of Michigan remembers the victims and stands in solidarity with the community of Uvalde, Texas, by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.   

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.       

Flags should be returned to full staff on Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Concerned residents march for women's reproductive rights, sign petitions for Michigan ballot initiatives

By Michele Bourdieu

Local residents walk across the Portage Lift Bridge on May 14, 2022, in solidarity with nationwide "Bans Off Our Bodies" demonstrations for women's reproductive rights. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- In response to the leaked draft opinion that the Supreme Court of the United States is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, stripping the 50-year constitutional right to abortion, and actions in 26 states that could ban abortion, concerned citizens organized nationwide "Bans Off Our Bodies" protests on May 14, 2022.

Hancock resident Susan Burack organized a supportive march for women's reproductive rights across the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock and back on Saturday, May 14.

"It feels important to make a statement in our community about this issue. And the response from passersby was overwhelmingly positive," Burack told Keweenaw Now

Organizer Susan Burack, center with sign, speaks to participants in the Houghton march for women's reproductive rights as the event begins on May 14 at Bridgeview Park in Houghton. Click on photos for larger versions.

Elizabeth Flynn of Hancock Township found the local march to be a positive experience.

"It was wonderful walking across the bridge with like-minded friends," Flynn noted. "There was much supportive honking, and I only saw one thumbs down."

Elizabeth Flynn, right, chats with Susan Burack during the May 14 Houghton march for women's reproductive rights.

Meghan, a snowbird of Mohawk, in Keweenaw County, offered her reason for participating:

Meghan of Mohawk speaks about the importance of protecting women's reproductive rights. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Several participants in the event displayed their signs to passing traffic on the corner of Shelden Avenue near the bridge.

Pictured here with Meghan, right, are Nadija Packauskas, left, and Katy, with their signs.

Also displaying signs near the Houghton end of the Lift Bridge are, from left, Jillian Foster of Laurium; Jillian's mother, League of Women Voters member Mel Wansell of Riverside, California, visiting Jillian; and Casey of Calumet.

Members of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country (LWVCC) were present at the march to collect signatures for three 2022 Michigan ballot proposals the LWVCC supports: Reproductive Freedom for All, Promote the Vote and "Good Time" to give prisoners a chance to earn time off for good behavior.*

LWVCC Treasurer Mary Marchaterre and League "proud member" Bill Fink pause for a photo near the Lift Bridge during the May 14 march. Both confirmed that men have been welcomed as LWVCC members for some time.

Janeen Stephenson of Houghton was one of the LWVCC volunteers collecting signatures at the May 14 event.

"People are eager to sign the Reproductive Rights petition because they understand that if we don't put reproductive rights into the Michigan constitution and Roe is overturned abortion will be illegal in Michigan," Stephenson told Keweenaw Now.  "A young woman said she didn't think she would have to do this (work for the right to have safe legal abortions) in her lifetime."

Emily Newhouse of Calumet signs petitions collected during the march by LWVCC volunteers Janeen Stephenson, center, and Valorie Troesch.

Valorie Troesch explained the importance of the Reproductive Freedom ballot initiative and the number of signatures required in the entire state of Michigan.

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During the May 14 March for women's reproductive rights in Houghton, Valorie Troesch speaks about the need for the Reproductive Freedom For All ballot initiative to amend the Michigan Constitution.**

If you have not signed any of these three petitions and would like to, contact Vicky Bergvall 482-1636 v.bergvall.MT@gmail.com or Barry Fink 482-4632 barryfink@chartermi.net

UPDATE:  If you wish to become a petition circulator, contact Valorie Troesch at vtroesch@gmail.com to request petitions and instructions. It doesn't matter if you collect 10 signatures or 100. Every signature counts!

NOTES:

* To learn more about these ballot proposals, as well as other ballot proposals for the coming November election in Michigan, see the Bridge Michigan article,"2022 Michigan petition drives tracker: What to know about election proposals."

** See also our May 6 article on the Promote the Vote ballot initiative: "Promote the Vote 2022 Petition signing available at Petition Drive Saturday, May 7, at Portage Lake District Library."