HOUGHTON -- A lively crowd of students and concerned local residents, young and old, displayed signs for Reproductive Freedom to oncoming traffic from Veterans Park in Houghton on Saturday, June 25, following the June 24 US Supreme Court decision against Roe v. Wade federal protections. Volunteers from the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country (LWVCC) circulated among the participants with petitions to sign for proposed Michigan ballot initiatives, including Reproductive Freedom for All and Promote the Vote.*
Many passing vehicles honked their horns in support of the rally.
Local residents and students demonstrate their support for reproductive rights in a rally following the June 24 Supreme Court decision to end federal Roe v. Wade protections, which leaves Michigan subject to a 1931 abortion ban that could go into effect. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)Members of a local activist group, Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action, joined with other young leaders in organizing the rally.
Gabriel Ahrendt of Youth for Climate Action told Keweenaw Now why his group participated in the rally.
Audrey Gerard of Hancock, another co-organizer, a member of Michigan United, spoke to the crowd and also collected signatures for the Reproductive Freedom for All petition. This ballot initiative would amend the Michigan Constitution to make sure no one goes to prison for providing safe medical care and to ensure access to a broad range of reproductive health care, including abortion.**
Audrey Gerard leads the crowd in a chant as they display signs to passing traffic from Veterans Park near the Portage Lift Bridge on Saturday, June 25.
Gerard told Keweenaw Now she was part of the group that wrote the language for the Reproductive Freedom for All Michigan ballot initiative. One rally participant who signed her petition was Matthew Budde of Hancock.
"I believe in having reproductive freedom for all -- whether it's abortion or contraception -- making sure that it's all codified in the Constitution," Budde said.
Another young local resident, Emma of Atlantic Mine, explained her sign and her reason for participating.
Katherine Cocciarelli of Redridge carried a sign and wore a t-shirt she brought back from the 2017 Women's March on Washington, DC.
"It was one of the greatest experiences of my life to be there," Cocciarelli told Keweenaw Now. "I felt so proud."
Katherine Cocciarelli speaks about her participation in the 2017 Women's March on Washington, DC.Brendon Stutzman of Calumet was chatting with Nadija Packauskas during the rally.
"I wanted to show up as a man for the mothers and sisters and daughters," Stutzman noted. "If you look around you don't see too many men in this crowd so I think it's important for me to be here."
Packauskas also spoke about supporting mothers, sisters and daughters, as indicated on her sign.
"I'm supporting [the rally] for my mother, who fought her whole life for women's rights. She passed last year," Packauskas said. "I'm supporting it for my sisters and for everyone's daughters. This is not about babies. If it was, there would be universal health care for mothers, free child care -- and they would protect our children in school."
Laura Smyth of Copper City was happy to participate with her daughter, Jane Reese. They both gave their reasons for being at the rally.
Jean Ellis of Eagle Harbor said the burqa she wore was a sacrifice on a warm day as well as a warning of the need for women's rights.
Jean Ellis explains the symbolism of her burqa.
Cindy Tomlinson of Chassell said she participated in the rally for the future of her own granddaughters.
Cindy Tomlinson tells Keweenaw Now why it was important for her to participate in the rally.
A brief but blunt and telling message came from James Rauschendorfer, Michigan Tech PhD student in Forestry.
James Rauschendorfer offers his reaction to the recent decision ending Roe v. Wade federal protections of reproductive rights.More Photos:
At 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, a second rally was held in Veterans Park, organized by Keweenaw Action Network. This is a new group. You can also access it here on Facebook.
Unfortunately we were not aware of this second event in time to attend.
Another rally, a Protest for Reproductive Liberty, will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 4, in Veterans Park.
Statement from LWVCC:
The following statement is from the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country Board of Directors, written by Elizabeth R. Benyi, D.O.:
"The overturning of Roe v. Wade will widely impact the healthcare of women and families. It takes the decision making of when to bear children away from women and families and squarely puts it into the hands of legislators with the biggest governmental overreach in the history of US democracy. The right to privacy in healthcare and HIPAA will also be widely impacted. The lives of women are in grave jeopardy as the standard care for tubal pregnancies and miscarriage will be controlled by legislators. High risk pregnancy care will be controlled by legislators leading to even more maternal fetal deaths than we currently have. Children as young as 10 and 11 will be forced to carry to term a brother or sister in cases of incest. Women sexually violated will be forced to carry to term their rapist's child. This is the future of every daughter and granddaughter in America."
Notes:
*According to Barry Fink, League of Women Voters of the Copper Country board member, volunteer circulators collected dozens of signatures for the Reproductive Freedom for All and Promote the Vote ballot initiatives during the rallies on Saturday, June 25. If you were unable to sign either or both of these, the last chance will be this week since petitions are due back on Friday, July 1. Here are some opportunities:
-- Informal signing events at the Michigan Tech Library Cafe (outside) between 10 a.m. and noon through Thursday, June 30.
-- At the Houghton Farmers Market from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28.
-- At the Hancock Tori and Farmers Market 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 30. Look for a blue Michigan United t-shirt and big glasses at this location.
** Click here for more info on the Reproductive Freedom for All Michigan ballot initiative campaign. Click here to learn about Promote the Vote 2022.
