Abortion opponents have told us what's next -- but are Michiganders listening?

Abortion opponents have told us what’s next — but are Michiganders listening? | Opinion

Paula Thorton Greear
Op-ed contributor


This month marks two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping away federal protections for abortion care. Since then, Michiganders have worked to protect reproductive freedom, while more than 20 states have banned some or all abortions, doing everything in their power to make care difficult or impossible to access.

Anti-abortion activists have relentlessly attacked reproductive freedom, pushing for bans, restrictions and erosion of rights. They've weaponized the courts to attack medication abortion and emergency room care for pregnant people and are now targeting contraceptives and IVF. It's clear that their agenda has always been to shift the political landscape into dangerous ideological territory. As we stand at a critical juncture, we must ask ourselves, "When will the next ominous shoe drop?"

Despite our hard-fought victories for reproductive rights in Michigan, anti-abortion extremists threaten to undo all progress. While we've done grueling work and made historic gains for Michiganders over the last several years, anti-abortion extremists will destroy it all if they win the upcoming presidential and congressional elections, which hold the power to shape the future of the Supreme Court and consequently, our nation's trajectory for generations. We cannot dismiss dire predictions as "exaggerated"; time and again, anti-abortion extremists and politicians have revealed their intentions — and then followed through on their attacks.

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Are abortion rights safe in Michigan?

Connecting the dots lets us see where our nation is headed — if we let it. With four of the nine Supreme Court justices in their 70s by the end of the next presidential term, a Republican victory would likely lead to retirements and the appointment of young, far-right justices. This would solidify a conservative majority on the Supreme Court for decades, endangering reproductive freedom and health equity in Michigan and beyond. ................................(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2024/06/22/abortion-dobbs-michigan-election-supreme-court-opinion/74156581007/