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."