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."