Local supporters of women's reproductive rights and Proposal 3 hold Women's March on Lift Bridge

By Michele Bourdieu

After a windy march across the Portage Lift Bridge and back, participants in the October 8, 2022, Women's March display their signs for women's rights and Proposal 3 on the Michigan ballot this November, which would restore the rights of Michiganders to make their own private decisions about pregnancy and abortion. Click on photo for larger version. (Photos by Keweenaw Now unless otherwise indicated.)

HOUGHTON -- A very cold wind on the Portage Lift Bridge did not deter about 50 participants from marching in solidarity with the national "Women's Wave March" for women's rights, reproductive freedom, and a multi-racial democracy -- held on October 8, 2022, in cities and towns across the U.S.*

After meeting briefly in Bridgeview Park in Houghton, the group walked across the bridge to Hancock and back, displaying signs about women's reproductive rights, now jeopardized again in many states since the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ending Roe v. Wade protection for safe abortion and leaving decisions on reproductive freedom to the states.

In Michigan this action also called attention to Proposal 3 on the November Michigan ballot, which would restore the rights of Michiganders to make their own private decisions about pregnancy and abortion by enshrining abortion rights in the Michigan Constitution.**

Victoria Bergvall of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country displays her sign in support of Proposition 3 on reproductive freedom and Proposition 2, a constitutional amendment to put key voting rights directly in the Michigan Constitution. Both Proposition 2 and Proposition 3 are on the Michigan November ballot thanks to grassroots organizing to collect a record number of required voter signatures.***

Keweenaw Now asked some participants to give their reasons for joining the march. Becky Darling of Chassell and Michele Southerland of Laurium replied.

Waiting for the Oct. 8, 2022, Women's March to begin at Bridgeview Park in Houghton, MI, Becky Darling of Chassell and Michele Southerland of Laurium tell Keweenaw Now why they are participating. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Hancock resident Susan Burack, who organized the local March, noted this was not the first time Keweenaw residents marched for women's rights.

Susan Burack of Hancock, organizer of the Oct. 8, 2022, Women's March from Houghton to Hancock and back across the Portage Lift Bridge, describes the purpose of the March, which was held in solidarity with Women's marches across the U.S. and also, locally, in support of Proposal 3 on the Michigan November ballot, which supports women's reproductive freedom.

Dr. Bob Lorinser, Michigan 1st District Democratic candidate for Congress, sent a message to the participants in the Houghton Women's March via his volunteer campaign representative Noah Hatch.

As participants in the Oct. 8, 2022, Women's Walk prepared to march across the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock and back, Noah Hatch delivers a message from Dr. Bob Lorinser, Michigan 1st District Democratic Congressional candidate, in support of women's reproductive rights.****

Dana Wright, who recently moved to the Keweenaw from Ann Arbor, also told Keweenaw Now her reason for marching.

Despite interference from a loud seaplane flying over the Portage Canal, participant Dana Wright tells Keweenaw Now she participated in marches for women's rights in Ann Arbor before moving recently to the Keweenaw.

In Bridgeview Park Harriet King, second from left, shows her support for the Women's March, accompanied by her daughter-in-law and granddaughter and by friends Miriam Pickens, left, and Janeen Stephenson, right.

Participants in the Women's March head up the hill from Bridgeview Park in Houghton to Shelden Avenue and the Portage Lift Bridge.

After crossing the Portage Lift Bridge to Hancock, marchers return to Houghton, displaying signs for women's reproductive rights.

Several marchers remained on the corner of Shelden Avenue and the bridge to display their signs to passing traffic.

Women's March participants display their signs calling for women's rights on the Houghton side of the Portage Lift Bridge. (Photo © and courtesy Allan Baker)

Following the march, Griffin, Michigan Tech student in mechanical engineering, originally from Kalamazoo, Mich., explained his reason for joining the Women's March.

Griffin, a Michigan Tech mechanical engineering student, tells Keweenaw Now why he believes in supporting women's rights and Michigan's Proposal 3 for reproductive freedom.

Following the march across the bridge, Victoria Bergvall displays the second side of her large sign, with a message for Michigan voters.

Notes:

* Read about the Women's Wave movement here.

** Read about Proposal 3 in the non-partisan Bridge.com article here.

*** See our May 23, 2022, article, "Concerned residents march for women's reproductive rights, sign petitions for Michigan ballot initiatives." 

**** See our Oct. 12, 2022, article on Dr. Bob Lorinser in Hancock. It includes a short video with his statements on reproductive rights: "Dr. Bob Lorinser, Michigan 1st District candidate for Congress, meets potential constituents in Hancock and online."

Michigan LCV: President Clinton endorses Michigan Proposal 3 for renewable energy

Posted by Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Political Week in Review

Oct. 29, 2012

ANN ARBOR -- On Monday, Oct. 29, President Bill Clinton endorsed Proposal 3 to get Michigan to 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.

President Bill Clinton with Lisa Wozniak, Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director. (Photo courtesy Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Reprinted with permission.)

Former President Clinton championed the cause because he knows that the jobs created by Prop 3 will help spur the kind of economic activity that defined his Presidency. On the opposite side of the debate, campaign finance reports show that Enbridge -- yes, that Enbridge (the one whose faulty oil pipeline dumped more than a million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River) -- has joined the opposition to Prop 3. After all, why have more renewable energy in Michigan when we can have record-breaking oil spills into our rivers, instead?

"Proposal 3 is Michigan’s best opportunity this year to jumpstart the state’s economy by creating 94,000 jobs and increasing the use of renewable energy," Clinton said. "Proposal 3 invests in Michigan’s future so that it won’t get left behind by the 30 other states that are already creating new clean energy jobs and lowering consumers’ electricity costs. That’s why I’m so proud to endorse Proposal 3."

President Clinton joins former Republican Michigan Governor Bill Milliken as two chief executives who know how important it is for Michigan to create jobs and move forward to a renewable energy future.

See more articles on Michigan LCV's current Political Week in Review: 

• Enbridge Oil joins other polluters in opposition to Proposal 3
• Ray Franz lives up to "Dirty Dozen" label at debate
• We launched a new ad exposing Dan Benishek's vote to gut the Clean Water Act.

Michigan LCV endorses Scott Dianda, Sharon Gray for Michigan House of Representatives seats

Michigan League of Conservation Voters reported in an article posted Oct. 1 that they have endorsed Michigan House candidates Scott Dianda of the 110th District and Sharon Gray of the 108th District in the Upper Peninsula.

The article notes that "former small business owners Scott Dianda and Sharon Gray are challenging incumbents Matt Huuki and Ed McBroom, respectively. Huuki and McBroom both voted to prohibit Michigan from adopting stronger Great Lakes protections than the federal government and to put their district under the land cap, limiting future outdoor recreation opportunities."

Lisa Wozniak, Michigan LCV executive director, had this to say about Scott Dianda: "The people of the Upper Peninsula have a unique connection to their natural resources. Whether they hunt, fish, farm, or work in the mining or timber industry, they have a stake in conserving our land, air, water and wildlife for future generations. Unfortunately, Matt Huuki has abandoned that legacy. We believe that Scott Dianda can help restore a conservation ethic to the Michigan Legislature."

Click here to read the article on these recent endorsements.

Key voices endorse Michigan's Ballot Proposal 3

From: Michigan League of Conservation Voters (MLCV)

Posted Oct. 15 on MLCV's Political Week in Review

A national coalition of businesses committed to renewable energy endorsed Proposal 3 today. Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) is composed of
nationally recognizable brands like Ben and Jerry's, The Gap Inc., and The North Face who want more of the electricity they use to come from renewable sources.

Michigan League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Lisa Wozniak made the case for Prop 3 in the Detroit Free Press this week, as well.

"The beauty of this ballot initiative is that it builds off of Michigan's manufacturing talent and know-how while also doing the right thing for the air we breathe and the Great Lakes. Proposal 3 will create jobs, spark investment, rein in high energy costs and reduce pollution," she wrote.

With only three weeks to go before the election, the Prop 3 campaign is in full swing. While the utilities have put millions of dollars into misleading ads to protect their reliance on coal, we have something they don't: you. Click here to sign up for a volunteer phone bank to make sure your fellow citizens know about the 94,000 Michigan jobs Prop 3 will create!

Click here to read more articles on MLCV's Oct. 15, 2012, Political Week in Review.