The Supreme Court just ruled 6-3 against the continued constitutional right to abortion nationwide. As a draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that previously spelled out the argument for overturning Roe v. Wade signaled weeks ago, reproductive freedom is officially no longer protected nationwide.
Michigan is now at risk of once again becoming one of the most hostile states in America to women and families making reproductive decisions. Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision puts Michigan at risk of reverting back to a draconian and previously dormant law from 1931 that criminalizes abortion, makes felons out of reproductive health care providers, and provides no exceptions for rape or incest.
To that end, the Republican-controlled state legislature is considering highly punitive legislation to make the 1931 abortion ban immediately enforceable post Roe v. Wade and imprison providers for up to 20 years.
The return of this near-total ban has been enthusiastically anticipated by every Republican running for governor. They have staked their entire campaigns on this dangerous and desperate crusade against millions of Michigan women and families:
- Ryan Kelley has called for the total reversal of Roe v. Wade, declared that reproductive freedom is “absolutely not a right,” and pledged to sign new anti-choice legislation eliminating exceptions for rape and incest and bans abortion beginning at conception.
- Garrett Soldano wants to outlaw Plan B and stated that survivors of sexual assault should not be able to have abortions because “God put them in this moment” and it would make them “heroic.” He’s referred to himself as “unapologetically pro-life” and suggested that fake crisis pregnancy centers that use manipulative tactics to push an anti-choice agenda should receive taxpayer funding.
- Kevin Rinke, who has erroneously claimed that abortion was “being used as birth control,” also made a dangerous commitment to enforce what he described as the “appropriate” 1931 ban on abortion that makes no exceptions for rape or incest as governor. He also said that the Supreme Court’s leaked brief to reverse Roe v. Wade was ‘proper.’ Asked about enforcing additional bans on abortion, Rinke said “people maybe need to consider” the “choices” that leave them with unwanted pregnancies, including sexual assault.
- Tudor Dixon is a staunch supporter of the 1931 ban that remains on the books in Michigan, calling it “a good law,” and has plainly stated that she would be against all exceptions to abortion, including rape, incest, and when the health of the mother was at risk. Right to Life Michigan rewarded her anti-choice extremism with an endorsement.
- Ralph Rebandt praised the 1931 ban as an “incredible” law, using the debates he’s appeared at so far to push his extreme anti-choice pledge to outlaw all abortions with no exceptions, even when the life of the mother is at risk.
Conversely, Governor Whitmer has put in the work to mitigate today’s horrible outcome ahead of time. She has already taken the historic step to file a lawsuit seeking for the Michigan Supreme Court to “rule that a 1931 law criminalizing abortion violates the state constitution.” Should the suit be successful, reproductive healthcare will be protected within Michigan despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s new ruling on Roe v. Wade.
MDP spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite issued the following statement:
“This devastating U.S. Supreme Court ruling means that millions of Michigan women and families now live in a state that could revert back to a dangerous and draconian abortion ban. That reality comes dramatically closer as every Republican running for governor has emphatically pledged to impose an extreme anti-choice agenda and enforce one of most extreme abortion bans in the nation that makes no exception for rape, incest, or the health of the mother. Meanwhile, Governor Whitmer continues to demonstrate strong leadership as she fights like hell to protect abortion access for Michiganders.”
